Ecclesiastes 2 קֹהֶלֶת פרק ב׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Ecclesiastes 2 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   אָמַרְתִּיa/MAR/tiI saidאֲנִיa/NIIבְּלִבִּיbe/lib/BIin my heartלְכָה־נָּאle/KHA-nacome nowאֲנַסְּכָהa/nas/se/KHAI will prove youבְשִׂמְחָהve/sim/CHAwith mirthוּרְאֵהu/re/Eand seeבְטוֹבve/TOVgoodוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdגַם־הוּאgam-huthis also isהָבֶל׃HA/velvanity

   I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

2. 2

   לִשְׂחוֹקlis/CHOKof laughterאָמַרְתִּיa/MAR/tiI saidמְהוֹלָלme/ho/LALit is madוּלְשִׂמְחָהu/le/sim/CHAand of mirthמַה־זֹּהma-zowhat does itעֹשָׂה׃o/SAdo

   I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

3. 3

   תַּרְתִּיTAR/tiI soughtבְלִבִּיve/lib/BIin my heartלִמְשׁוֹךְlim/SHOKHto drawבַּיַּיִןbay/YA/yinwith wineאֶת־בְּשָׂרִיet-be/sa/RImy fleshוְלִבִּיve/lib/BIyet my heartנֹהֵגno/HEGguidingבַּחׇכְמָהba/chokh/MAwith wisdomוְלֶאֱחֹזve/le/e/CHOZand to lay holdבְּסִכְלוּתbe/sikh/LUTon follyעַדadtillאֲשֶׁר־אֶרְאֶהa/SHER-er/EI might seeאֵי־זֶהe-zewhat wasטוֹבtovgoodלִבְנֵיliv/NEfor the sons ofהָאָדָםha/a/DAMmenאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichיַעֲשׂוּya/a/SUthey should doתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמַיִםhash/sha/MA/yimthe heavensמִסְפַּרmis/PARthe number ofיְמֵיye/MEthe days ofחַיֵּיהֶם׃chay/ye/HEMtheir lives

   I 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.

4. 4

   הִגְדַּלְתִּיhig/DAL/tiI made greatמַעֲשָׂיma/a/SAYmy worksבָּנִיתִיba/NI/tiI have builtלִיlifor myselfבָּתִּיםbat/TIMhousesנָטַעְתִּיna/TA/tiI have plantedלִיlifor myselfכְּרָמִים׃ke/ra/MIMvineyards

   I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

5. 5

   עָשִׂיתִיa/SI/tiI madeלִיlifor myselfגַּנּוֹתgan/NOTgardensוּפַרְדֵּסִיםu/far/de/SIMand orchardsוְנָטַעְתִּיve/na/TA/tiand I plantedבָהֶםva/HEMin themעֵץetstreesכׇּל־פְּרִי׃kol-pe/RIof all fruit

   I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

6. 6

   עָשִׂיתִיa/SI/tiI madeלִיlifor myselfבְּרֵכוֹתbe/re/KHOTpools ofמָיִםMA/yimwaterלְהַשְׁקוֹתle/hash/KOTto waterמֵהֶםme/HEMwith themיַעַרYA/arthe woodצוֹמֵחַtso/ME/achthat brings forthעֵצִים׃e/TSIMtrees

   I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

7. 7

   קָנִיתִיka/NI/tiI gotעֲבָדִיםa/va/DIMservantsוּשְׁפָחוֹתu/she/fa/CHOTand maidensוּבְנֵי־בַיִתu/ve/NE-VA/yitand children of the houseהָיָהha/YAwasלִיlito meגַּםgamalsoמִקְנֶהmik/NEpossessions ofבָקָרva/KARherdsוָצֹאןva/TSONand flocksהַרְבֵּהhar/BEgreatהָיָהha/YAwasלִיlito meמִכֹּלmik/KOLabove allשֶׁהָיוּshe/ha/YUthat wereלְפָנַיle/fa/NAYbefore meבִּירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃bI/ru/sha/LA/yimin Jerusalem

   I 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:

8. 8

   כָּנַסְתִּיka/NAS/tiI gatheredלִיlifor myselfגַּם־כֶּסֶףgam-KE/sefalso silverוְזָהָבve/za/HAVand goldוּסְגֻלַּתu/se/gul/LATand the treasure ofמְלָכִיםme/la/KHIMkingsוְהַמְּדִינוֹתve/ham/me/di/NOTand of the provincesעָשִׂיתִיa/SI/tiI madeלִיlifor myselfשָׁרִיםsha/RIMmen singersוְשָׁרוֹתve/sha/ROTand women singersוְתַעֲנֻגוֹתve/ta/a/nu/GOTand the delights ofבְּנֵיbe/NEthe sons ofהָאָדָםha/a/DAMmenשִׁדָּהshid/DAa concubineוְשִׁדּוֹת׃ve/shid/DOTand concubines

   I 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.

9. 9

   וְגָדַלְתִּיve/ga/DAL/tiso I was greatוְהוֹסַפְתִּיve/ho/SAF/tiand increasedמִכֹּלmik/KOLmore than allשֶׁהָיָהshe/ha/YAthat wereלְפָנַיle/fa/NAYbefore meבִּירוּשָׁלָ͏ִםbI/ru/sha/LA/yimin Jerusalemאַףafalsoחׇכְמָתִיchokh/ma/TImy wisdomעָמְדָהa/me/DAremainedלִּי׃liwith me

   So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

10. 10

    וְכֹלve/KHOLand whateverאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatשָׁאֲלוּsha/a/LUdesiredעֵינַיe/NAYmy eyesלֹאlonotאָצַלְתִּיa/TSAL/tiI keptמֵהֶםme/HEMfrom themלֹא־מָנַעְתִּיlo-ma/NA/tiI withheld notאֶת־לִבִּיet-lib/BImy heartמִכׇּל־שִׂמְחָהmik/KOL-sim/CHAfrom all joyכִּי־לִבִּיki-lib/BIfor my heartשָׂמֵחַsa/ME/achrejoicedמִכׇּל־עֲמָלִיmik/KOL-a/ma/LIin all my laborוְזֶה־הָיָהve/ZE-ha/YAand this wasחֶלְקִיchel/KImy portionמִכׇּל־עֲמָלִי׃mik/KOL-a/ma/LIof all my labor

    And 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.

11. 11

    וּפָנִיתִיu/fa/NI/tithen I lookedאֲנִיa/NIIבְּכׇל־מַעֲשַׂיbe/KHOL-ma/a/SAYon all my worksשֶׁעָשׂוּshe/a/SUthat had wroughtיָדַיya/DAYmy handsוּבֶעָמָלu/ve/a/MALand on the laborשֶׁעָמַלְתִּיshe/a/MAL/tithat I had laboredלַעֲשׂוֹתla/a/SOTto doוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdהַכֹּלhak/KOLallהֶבֶלHE/velvanityוּרְעוּתu/re/UTand vexation ofרוּחַRU/achspiritוְאֵיןve/ENand there is noיִתְרוֹןyit/RONprofitתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃hash/SHA/meshthe sun

    Then 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.

12. 12

    וּפָנִיתִיu/fa/NI/tiand I turnedאֲנִיa/NIIלִרְאוֹתlir/OTto seeחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomוְהוֹלֵלוֹתve/ho/le/LOTand madnessוְסִכְלוּתve/sikh/LUTand the foolishness ofכִּיkiforמֶהmewhat canהָאָדָםha/a/DAMthe manשֶׁיָּבוֹאshey/ya/VOthat comesאַחֲרֵיa/cha/REafterהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־כְּבָרet-a/SHER-ke/VARthat which alreadyעָשׂוּהוּ׃a/SU/huhas been done

    And 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. 13

    וְרָאִיתִיve/ra/I/tithen I sawאָנִיA/niIשֶׁיֵּשׁshey/YESHthat there isיִתְרוֹןyit/RONan advantageלַחׇכְמָהla/chokh/MAto wisdomמִן־הַסִּכְלוּתmin-has/sikh/LUTover follyכִּיתְרוֹןki/te/RONas the advantage ofהָאוֹרha/ORthe lightמִן־הַחֹשֶׁךְ׃min-ha/CHO/shekhover darkness

    Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

14. 14

    הֶחָכָםhe/cha/KHAMthe wise manעֵינָיוe/NAYVhis eyesבְּרֹאשׁוֹbe/ro/SHOare in his headוְהַכְּסִילve/hak/ke/SILand the foolבַּחֹשֶׁךְba/CHO/shekhin the darknessהוֹלֵךְho/LEKHwalksוְיָדַעְתִּיve/ya/DA/tiand I perceivedגַם־אָנִיgam-A/niI myself alsoשֶׁמִּקְרֶהshem/mik/REthat eventאֶחָדe/CHADoneיִקְרֶהyik/REhappens toאֶת־כֻּלָּם׃et-kul/LAMthem all

    The 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.

15. 15

    וְאָמַרְתִּיve/a/mar/TIthen I saidאֲנִיa/NIIבְּלִבִּיbe/lib/BIin my heartכְּמִקְרֵהke/mik/REas the event ofהַכְּסִילhak/ke/SILthe foolגַּם־אֲנִיgam-a/NIeven to meיִקְרֵנִיyik/RE/niit will happen to meוְלָמָּהve/LAM/maand whyחָכַמְתִּיcha/KHAM/tihave I become wiseאֲנִיa/NIIאָזazthenיֹתֵרyo/TERmoreוְדִבַּרְתִּיve/dib/bar/TIthen I saidבְלִבִּיve/lib/BIin my heartשֶׁגַּם־זֶהsheg/GAM-zethat this alsoהָבֶל׃HA/velvanity

    Then 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.

16. 16

    כִּיkiforאֵיןenthere is noזִכְרוֹןzikh/RONremembrance ofלֶחָכָםle/cha/KHAMof the wiseעִם־הַכְּסִילim-hak/ke/SILwith the foolלְעוֹלָםle/o/LAMforeverבְּשֶׁכְּבָרbe/shek/ke/VARseeing that alreadyהַיָּמִיםhay/ya/MIMthe daysהַבָּאִיםhab/ba/IMto comeהַכֹּלhak/KOLeverythingנִשְׁכָּחnish/KACHshall be forgottenוְאֵיךְve/EKHand howיָמוּתya/MUTdiesהֶחָכָםhe/cha/KHAMthe wise manעִם־הַכְּסִיל׃im-hak/ke/SILwith the fool

    For 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.

17. 17

    וְשָׂנֵאתִיve/sa/NE/tiand I hatedאֶת־הַחַיִּיםet-ha/chay/YIMlifeכִּיkibecauseרַעragrievousעָלַיa/LAYto meהַמַּעֲשֶׂהham/ma/a/SEthe workשֶׁנַּעֲשָׂהshen/na/a/SAthat is wroughtתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמֶשׁhash/SHA/meshthe sunכִּי־הַכֹּלki-hak/KOLfor all isהֶבֶלHE/velvanityוּרְעוּתu/re/UTand vexation ofרוּחַ׃RU/achspirit

    Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

18. 18

    וְשָׂנֵאתִיve/sa/NE/tiand I hatedאֲנִיa/NIIאֶת־כׇּל־עֲמָלִיet-kol-a/ma/LIall my laborשֶׁאֲנִיshe/a/NIwhich Iעָמֵלa/MELlaborתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמֶשׁhash/SHA/meshthe sunשֶׁאַנִּיחֶנּוּshe/an/ni/CHEN/nubecause I should leave itלָאָדָםla/a/DAMto the manשֶׁיִּהְיֶהshey/yih/YEthat shall beאַחֲרָי׃a/cha/RAYafter me

    Yea, 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.

19. 19

    וּמִיu/MIand whoיוֹדֵעַyo/DE/aknowsהֶחָכָםhe/cha/KHAMa wise manיִהְיֶהyih/YEshall beאוֹoorסָכָלsa/KHALa foolוְיִשְׁלַטve/yish/LATyet shall he have ruleבְּכׇל־עֲמָלִיbe/KHOL-a/ma/LIover all my laborשֶׁעָמַלְתִּיshe/a/MAL/tiwherein I have laboredוְשֶׁחָכַמְתִּיve/she/cha/KHAM/tiand wherein I have shown myself wiseתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמֶשׁhash/SHA/meshthe sunגַּם־זֶהgam-zealso thisהָבֶל׃HA/velvanity

    And 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.

20. 20

    וְסַבּוֹתִיve/sab/BO/titherefore I went aboutאֲנִיa/NIIלְיַאֵשׁle/ya/ESHto cause to despairאֶת־לִבִּיet-lib/BImy heartעַלalofכׇּל־הֶעָמָלkol-he/a/MALall the laborשֶׁעָמַלְתִּיshe/a/MAL/tiwhich I tookתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃hash/SHA/meshthe sun

    Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

21. 21

    כִּי־יֵשׁki-yeshfor there isאָדָםa/DAMa manשֶׁעֲמָלוֹshe/a/ma/LOwhose labor isבְּחׇכְמָהbe/chokh/MAin wisdomוּבְדַעַתu/ve/DA/atand in knowledgeוּבְכִשְׁרוֹןu/ve/khish/RONand in skillוּלְאָדָםu/le/a/DAMyet to a manשֶׁלֹּאshel/LOthat has notעָמַל־בּוֹa/MAL-bolabored thereinיִתְּנֶנּוּyit/te/NEN/nushall he leave itחֶלְקוֹchel/KOfor his portionגַּם־זֶהgam-zealso thisהֶבֶלHE/velvanityוְרָעָהve/ra/Aand an evilרַבָּה׃rab/BAgreat

    For 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.

22. 22

    כִּיkiforמֶה־הֹוֶהme-ho/VEwhat hasלָאָדָםla/a/DAMfor manבְּכׇל־עֲמָלוֹbe/KHOL-a/ma/LOof all his laborוּבְרַעְיוֹןu/ve/ra/YONand of the vexation ofלִבּוֹlib/BOhis heartשְׁהוּאshe/HUwherein heעָמֵלa/MELlaborsתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃hash/SHA/meshthe sun

    For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

23. 23

    כִּיkiforכׇל־יָמָיוkhol-ya/MAYVall his daysמַכְאֹבִיםmakh/o/VIMare sorrowsוָכַעַסva/KHA/asand griefעִנְיָנוֹin/ya/NOhis travailגַּם־בַּלַּיְלָהgam-bal/LAY/laalso in the nightלֹא־שָׁכַבlo-sha/KHAVtakes not restלִבּוֹlib/BOhis heartגַּם־זֶהgam-zealso thisהֶבֶלHE/velvanityהוּא׃huit is

    For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

24. 24

    אֵין־טוֹבen-tovthere is nothing betterבָּאָדָםba/a/DAMfor a manשֶׁיֹּאכַלshey/yo/KHALthan that he should eatוְשָׁתָהve/sha/TAand drinkוְהֶרְאָהve/her/Aand that he should make seeאֶת־נַפְשׁוֹet-naf/SHOhis soulטוֹבtovgoodבַּעֲמָלוֹba/a/ma/LOin his toilגַּם־זֹהgam-zothis alsoרָאִיתִיra/I/tiI sawאָנִיA/niIכִּיkithatמִיַּדmiy/YADfrom the hand ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodהִיא׃hiit is

    There 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.

25. 25

    כִּיkiforמִיmiwhoיֹאכַלyo/KHALcan eatוּמִיu/MIor whoיָחוּשׁya/CHUSHcan enjoyחוּץchutsapartמִמֶּנִּי׃mim/MEN/nifrom me

    For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

26. 26

    כִּיkithatלְאָדָםle/a/DAMto a manשֶׁטּוֹבshet/TOVthat is goodלְפָנָיוle/fa/NAYVin His sightנָתַןna/TANHe givesחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomוְדַעַתve/DA/atand knowledgeוְשִׂמְחָהve/sim/CHAand joyוְלַחוֹטֶאve/la/cho/TEand to the sinnerנָתַןna/TANHe givesעִנְיָןin/YANtravailלֶאֱסֹףle/e/SOFto gatherוְלִכְנוֹסve/likh/NOSand to heap upלָתֵתla/TETthat he may giveלְטוֹבle/TOVto him that is goodלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodגַּם־זֶהgam-zealso thisהֶבֶלHE/velvanityוּרְעוּתu/re/UTand vexation ofרוּחַ׃RU/achspirit

    For 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.