The Test of Pleasure and Toil
Ecclesiastes 2
The Preacher describes testing pleasure through mirth, building houses and gardens, and gathering wealth, servants, and singers, and finds it all vanity. He observes that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness, yet one fate overtakes the wise man and the fool alike, and concludes that eating, drinking, and finding enjoyment in one's labor is a gift from the Lord.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonI SAID in my heart, Come now let me try thee with pleasure. Take a view of that considered as a good. But behold this also is vanity.
BrentonI said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, and behold thou good: and, behold, this is also vanity.
GreekΕἶπον ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, δεῦρο δὴ πειράσω σε ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, καὶ ἴδε ἐν ἀγαθῷ· καὶ ἰδοὺ καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.
KJVI said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
JPSI said in my heart: ‘Come now, I will try thee with mirth, and enjoy pleasure’; and, behold, this also was vanity.
2
ThomsonTo laughter I said, It is madness; and to mirth, What is this thou art doing?
BrentonI said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why doest thou this?
GreekΤῷ γέλωτι εἶπα, περιφορὰν, καὶ τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ, τί τοῦτο ποιεῖς;
KJVI said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
JPSI said of laughter: ‘It is mad’; and of mirth: ‘What doth it accomplish?’
3
ThomsonNow I had examined whether my mind could lead my flesh to wine; and my mind had led it with wisdom, retaining a command over pleasure, until I should see of what sort that good is, which the sons of men are to pursue under the sun, all the days of their life.
BrentonAnd I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life.
GreekΚαὶ κατεσκεψάμην εἰ ἡ καρδία μου ἑλκύσει ὡς οἶνον τὴν σάρκα μου, καὶ καρδία μου ὡδήγησεν ἐν σοφίᾳ, καὶ τοῦ κρατῆσαι ἐπʼ εὐφροσύνην, ἕως οὗ ἴδω ποῖον τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὃ ποιήσουσιν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτῶν.
KJVI sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
JPSI searched in my heart how to pamper my flesh with wine, and, my heart conducting itself with wisdom, how yet to lay hold on folly, till I might see which it was best for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven the few days of their life.
4
ThomsonI enlarged my plan of operations. I built me houses. I planted me vineyards.
BrentonI enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards.
GreekἘμεγάλυνα ποίημἀ μου, ᾠκοδόμησά μοι οἴκους, ἐφύτευσά μοι ἀμπελῶνας,
KJVI made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
JPSI made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;
5
ThomsonI made me gardens and orchards and planted therein all sorts of fruit trees.
BrentonI made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them every kind of fruit-tree.
Greekἐποίησά μοι κήπους καὶ παραδείσους, καὶ ἐφύτευσα ἐν αὐτοῖς ξύλον πᾶν καρποῦ.
KJVI made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
JPSI made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit;
6
ThomsonI made me pools of water, to water from them my blooming nurseries.
BrentonI made me pools of water, to water from them the timber-bearing wood.
GreekἘποίησά μοι κολυμβήθρας ὑδάτων τοῦ ποτίσαι ἀπʼ αὐτῶν δρυμὸν βλαστῶντα ξύλα.
KJVI made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
JPSI made me pools of water, to water therefrom the wood springing up with trees;
7
ThomsonI purchased men servants and maid servants; and had servants born in my family. And my stock of herds and flocks was great above all who were before me in Jerusalem.
BrentonI got servants and maidens, and servants were born to me in the house: also I had abundant possession of flocks and herds, beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem.
GreekἘκτησάμην δούλους καὶ παιδίσκας, καὶ οἰκογενεῖς ἐγένοντό μοι, καί γε κτῆσις βουκολίου καὶ ποιμνίου πολλὴ ἐγένετό μοι ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVI got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
JPSI acquired men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem;
8
ThomsonI collected also for myself silver and gold and the choicest treasures of kings and countries. I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men; a butler and the requisites to entertainments.
BrentonMoreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers.
GreekΣυνήγαγόν μοι καί γε ἀργύριον καί γε χρυσίον, καὶ περιουσιασμοὺς βασιλέων καὶ τῶν χωρῶν· ἐποίησά μοι ᾄδοντας καὶ ᾀδούσας, καὶ ἐντρυφήματα υἱῶν ἀνθρώπων, οἰνοχόον καὶ οἰνοχόας.
KJVI gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
JPSI gathered me also silver and gold, and treasure such as kings and the provinces have as their own; I got me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, women very many.
9
ThomsonAnd I was great and surpassed all who had been before me in Jerusalem; and still my wisdom continued with me.
BrentonSo I became great, and advanced beyond all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom was established to me.
GreekΚαὶ ἐμεγαλύνθην καὶ προσέθηκα παρὰ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἀπὸ ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ, καί γε σοφία μου ἐστάθη μοι.
KJVSo I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
JPSSo I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom stood me in stead.
10
ThomsonAnd whatever mine eyes desired I withheld not from them, nor did I restrain my heart from all my pleasure. Because my heart had been gladdened with all my labour, (now this was my portion from all my labour)
BrentonAnd whatever mine eyes desired, I withheld not from them, I withheld not my heart from all my mirth: for my heart rejoiced in all my labour; and this was my portion of all my labour.
GreekΚαὶ πᾶν ὃ ᾔτησαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου, οὐκ ἀφεῖλον ἀπʼ αὐτῶν· οὐκ ἀπεκώλυσα τὴν καρδίαν μου ἀπὸ πάσης εὐφροσύνης μου, ὅτι καρδία μου εὐφράνθη ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου· καὶ τοῦτο ἐγένετο μερίς μου ἀπὸ παντὸς μόχθου μου.
KJVAnd whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
JPSAnd whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart had joy of all my labour; and this was my portion from all my labour.
11
Thomsontherefore I looked back on all the works which my hands had done, and on the labour with which I had toiled to execute them; and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit and there is no lasting advantage under the sun.
BrentonAnd I looked on all my works which my hands had wrought, and on my labour which I laboured to perform: and, behold, all was vanity and waywardness of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέβλεψα ἐγὼ ἐν πᾶσι ποιήμασί μου οἷς ἐποίησαν αἱ χεῖρές μου, καὶ ἐν μόχθῳ ᾧ ἐμόχθησα τοῦ ποιεῖν, καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περίσσεια ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
KJVThen I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
JPSThen I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
12
ThomsonThen I looked back to take a view of wisdom and madness and folly. In all the particulars which formed this deliberation (for who is the man equal to a complete investigation)
BrentonThen I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the man who will follow after counsel, in all things wherein he employs it?
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέβλεψα ἐγὼ τοῦ ἰδεῖν σοφίαν καὶ παραφορὰν καὶ ἀφροσύνην, ὅτι τίς ἄνθρωπος ὅς ἐπελεύσεται ὀπίσω τῆς βουλῆς; τὰ ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτήν.
KJVAnd I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
JPSAnd I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness and folly; for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
13
ThomsonI saw indeed that there is an advantage in wisdom above folly, like the advantage of light above darkness.
BrentonAnd I saw that wisdom excels folly, as much as light excels darkness.
GreekΚαὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ ὅτι ἐστὶ περίσσεια τῇ σοφίᾳ ὑπὲρ τὴν ἀφροσύνην, ὡς περίσσεια τοῦ φωτὸς ὑπὲρ τὸ σκότος.
KJVThen I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
JPSThen I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
14
ThomsonThe wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness. Nevertheless I knew that one event [death] will happen to them all.
BrentonThe wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I perceived, even I, that one event shall happen to them all.
GreekΤοῦ σοφοῦ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν κεφαλῇ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ἄφρων ἐν σκότει πορεύεται· καὶ ἔγνων καί γε ἐγὼ, ὅτι συνάντημα ἓν συναντήσεται τοῖς πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς.
KJVThe wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
JPSThe wise man, his eyes are in his head; But the fool walketh in darkness. And I also perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
15
ThomsonTherefore I said in my heart, As the same event will happen to me as happeneth to the fool Why have I studied wisdom? Why communed abundantly with my heart?
BrentonAnd I said in my heart, As the event of the fool is, so shall it be to me, even to me; and to what purpose have I gained wisdom? I said moreover in my heart, This is also vanity, because the fool speaks of his abundance.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, ὡς συνάντημα τοῦ ἄφρονος καί γε ἐμοὶ συναντήσεταί μοι, καὶ ἱνατί ἐσοφισάμην ἐγώ; περισσὸν ἐλάλησα ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης, διότι ὁ ἄφρων ἐκ περισσεύματος λαλεῖ·
KJVThen said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
JPSThen said I in my heart: ‘As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?’ Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
16
ThomsonBecause even this is vanity— (since out of an abundance the fool speaketh)—because there is no remembrance forever of the wise man more than of the fool (seeing the days are now coming when all shall be forgotten and the wise must die as well as the fool);
BrentonFor there is no remembrance of the wise man with the fool for ever; forasmuch as now in the coming days all things are forgotten: and how shall the wise man die with the fool?
GreekὍτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ μνήμη τοῦ σοφοῦ μετὰ τοῦ ἄφρονος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καθότι ἤδη αἱ ἡμέραι ἐρχόμεναι τὰ πάντα ἐπελήσθη· καὶ πῶς ἀποθανεῖται ὁ σοφὸς μετὰ τοῦ ἄφρονος;
KJVFor there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
JPSFor of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will long ago have been forgotten. And how must the wise man die even as the fool!
17
Thomsontherefore I hated the whole of this life, because the work which was done under the sun was toilsome to me—because all are vanity and vexation of spirit:
BrentonSo I hated life; because the work that was wrought under the sun was evil before me: for all is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
GreekΚαὶ ἐμίσησα σὺν τὴν ζωήν· ὅτι πονηρὸν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ τὸ ποίημα τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
KJVTherefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
JPSSo I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
18
Thomsonand I hated all this labour of mine for which I am toiling under the sun; because I must leave it to a man who is coming after me;
BrentonAnd I hated the whole of my labour which I took under the sun; because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
GreekΚαὶ ἐμίσησα ἐγὼ σύμπαντα μόχθον μου ὃν ἐγὼ κοπιῶ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι ἀφίω αὐτὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ γινομένῳ μετʼ ἐμέ.
KJVYea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
JPSAnd I hated all my labour wherein I laboured under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19
Thomsonand who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? Now if he hath power over all my labour for which I have toiled and in which I have displayed wisdom under the sun; surely this is vanity.
BrentonAnd who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? and whether he will have power over all my labour in which I laboured, and wherein I grew wise under the sun? this is also vanity.
GreekΚαὶ τίς εἶδεν εἰ σοφὸς ἔσται ἢ ἄφρων; καὶ εἰ ἐξουσιάζεται ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου, ᾧ ἐμόχθησα καὶ ᾧ ἐσοφισάμην ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον; καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.
KJVAnd who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
JPSAnd who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
20
ThomsonThen I turned about that my heart might state distinctly in every labour of mine in which I had toiled under the sun—
BrentonSo I went about to dismiss from my heart all my labour wherein I had laboured under the sun.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ τοῦ ἀποτάξασθαι τὴν καρδίαν μου ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου ᾧ ἐμόχθησα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον·
KJVTherefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
JPSTherefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour wherein I had laboured under the sun.
21
Thomsonthat here is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom and with knowledge, and with ability; and there is a man to whom, though he did not labour for him, he shall give his portion. Surely this is vanity and a great vexation.
BrentonFor there is such a man that his labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in fortitude; yet this man shall give his portion to one who has not laboured therein. This is also vanity and great evil.
GreekὍτι ἐστὶν ἄνθρωπος ὅτι μόχθος αὐτοῦ ἐν σοφίᾳ καὶ ἐν γνώσει καὶ ἐν ἀνδρίᾳ· καὶ ἄνθρωπος ᾧ οὐκ ἐμόχθησεν ἐν αὐτῷ, δώσει αὐτῷ μερίδα αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ πονηρία μεγάλη.
KJVFor there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
JPSFor there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22
ThomsonThat such is the case with another man by all his labours and the vexation of his heart with which he toileth under the sun,
BrentonFor it happens to a man in all his labour, and in the purpose of his heart wherein he labours under the sun.
Greekὅτι γίνεται ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν προαιρέσει καρδίας αὐτοῦ ᾧ αὐτὸς μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
KJVFor what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
JPSFor what hath a man of all his labour, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboureth under the sun?
23
Thomsonthat all his days are days of sorrow and his employment grief, and even at night his heart hath no rest. Surely this is vanity.
BrentonFor all his days are days of sorrows, and vexation of spirit is his; in the night also his heart rests not. This is also vanity.
GreekὍτι πᾶσαι αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτοῦ ἀλγημάτων καὶ θυμοῦ περισπασμὸς αὐτοῦ, καί γε ἐν νυκτὶ οὐ κοιμᾶται ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης ἐστίν.
KJVFor all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
JPSFor all his days are pains, and his occupation vexation; yea, even in the night his heart taketh not rest. This also is vanity.
24
Thomson[But, thou sayest,] Hath not a man something good which he can eat and drink, and which he can point out to his soul as a good by his labour? With respect to that, I saw indeed that even this is from the hand of God;
BrentonA man has nothing really good to eat, and to drink, and to shew his soul as good in his trouble. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
GreekΟὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν ἀνθρώπῳ, ὃ φάγεται καὶ ὃ πίεται καὶ ὃ δείξει τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὸν ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο εἶδον ἐγὼ ὅτι ἀπὸ χειρὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν·
KJVThere is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
JPSThere is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy pleasure for his labour. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
25
Thomsonfor who can eat or who can drink without Him?
BrentonFor who shall eat, or who shall drink, without him?
GreekὍτι τίς φάγεται καὶ τίς πίεται πάρεξ αὐτοῦ;
KJVFor who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
JPSFor who will eat, or who will enjoy, if not I?
26
ThomsonFor to the man who is good in His sight He hath given wisdom and knowledge and joy; and to the sinner He hath given the trouble of gathering and heaping up to give to him who is good in the sight of God. So that this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
BrentonFor God has given to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but he has given to the sinner trouble, to add and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God; for this is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
GreekὍτι τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ ἀγαθῷ πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἔδωκε σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν καὶ εὐφροσύνην, καὶ τῷ ἁμαρτάνοντι ἔδωκε περισπασμὸν τοῦ προσθεῖναι καὶ τοῦ συναγαγεῖν, τοῦ δοῦναι τῷ ἀγαθῷ πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
KJVFor God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
JPSFor to the man that is good in His sight He giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He giveth the task, to gather and to heap up, that he may leave to him that is good in the sight of God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.