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Chapter 2
The Futility of Pleasure
1
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved… to be futile.
𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤕𐤉 𐤁𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤍𐤀 𐤀𐤍𐤎𐤊𐤄 𐤁𐤔𐤌𐤇𐤄 𐤅𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤁𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤅𐤄𐤍𐤄 𐤂𐤌 𐤄𐤁𐤋
אֲנִי֙ אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי בְּלִבִּ֔י לְכָה־ נָּ֛א אֲנַסְּכָ֛ה בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּרְאֵ֣ה בְט֑וֹב ה֖וּא וְהִנֵּ֥ה גַם־ הָֽבֶל׃ ’ă·nî ’ā·mar·tî bə·lib·bî lə·ḵāh- nā ’ă·nas·sə·ḵāh ḇə·śim·ḥāh ū·rə·’êh ḇə·ṭō·wḇ hū wə·hin·nêh ḡam- hā·ḇel — WLC · 1
2
I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤔𐤇𐤅𐤒 𐤌𐤄𐤅𐤋𐤋 𐤅𐤋𐤔𐤌𐤇𐤄 𐤌𐤄 𐤆𐤄 𐤏𐤔𐤄
אָמַ֣רְתִּי לִשְׂח֖וֹק מְהוֹלָ֑ל וּלְשִׂמְחָ֖ה מַה־ זֹּ֥ה עֹשָֽׂה׃ ’ā·mar·tî liś·ḥō·wq mə·hō·w·lāl ū·lə·śim·ḥāh mah- zōh ‘ō·śāh — WLC · 2
3
I sought… to cheer my body… with wine and to embrace folly— my mind still guiding me with wisdom— until I could see what [was] worthwhile for men… to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
𐤕𐤓𐤕𐤉 𐤁𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤁𐤔𐤓𐤉 𐤋𐤌𐤔𐤅𐤊 𐤁𐤉𐤉𐤍 𐤀𐤕 𐤅𐤋𐤀𐤇𐤆 𐤁𐤎𐤊𐤋𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤍𐤄𐤂 𐤁𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄 𐤏𐤃 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤀𐤉 𐤆𐤄 𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤋𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤉𐤏𐤔𐤅 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤎𐤐𐤓 𐤉𐤌𐤉 𐤇𐤉𐤉𐤄𐤌
תַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י בְּשָׂרִ֑י לִמְשׁ֥וֹךְ בַּיַּ֖יִן אֶת־ וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז בְּסִכְל֔וּת וְלִבִּ֞י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר־ אֶרְאֶ֗ה אֵי־ זֶ֨ה ט֜וֹב לִבְנֵ֤י הָאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַעֲשׂוּ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּיהֶֽם׃ tar·tî ḇə·lib·bî bə·śā·rî lim·šō·wḵ bay·ya·yin ’eṯ- wə·le·’ĕ·ḥōz bə·siḵ·lūṯ wə·lib·bî nō·hêḡ ba·ḥā·ḵə·māh ‘aḏ ’ă·šer- ’er·’eh ’ê- zeh ṭō·wḇ liḇ·nê hā·’ā·ḏām ’ă·šer ya·‘ă·śū ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·ma·yim mis·par yə·mê ḥay·yê·hem — WLC · 3
4
I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
𐤄𐤂𐤃𐤋𐤕𐤉 𐤌𐤏𐤔𐤉 𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤉 𐤁𐤕𐤉𐤌 𐤍𐤈𐤏𐤕𐤉 𐤊𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤉
הִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי מַעֲשָׂ֑י בָּנִ֤יתִי לִי֙ בָּתִּ֔ים נָטַ֥עְתִּי כְּרָמִֽים׃ לִ֖י hiḡ·dal·tî ma·‘ă·śāy bā·nî·ṯî lî bāt·tîm nā·ṭa‘·tî kə·rā·mîm lî — WLC · 4
5
I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.
𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤂𐤍𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤐𐤓𐤃𐤎𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤉 𐤁𐤄𐤌 𐤅𐤍𐤈𐤏𐤕𐤉 𐤊𐤋 𐤐𐤓𐤉 𐤏𐤑
עָשִׂ֣יתִי גַּנּ֖וֹת וּפַרְדֵּסִ֑ים לִ֔י בָהֶ֖ם וְנָטַ֥עְתִּי כָּל־ פֶּֽרִי׃ עֵ֥ץ ‘ā·śî·ṯî gan·nō·wṯ ū·p̄ar·dê·sîm lî ḇā·hem wə·nā·ṭa‘·tî kāl- pe·rî ‘êṣ — WLC · 5
6
I built… reservoirs… to water… my groves of flourishing trees.
𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤉 𐤁𐤓𐤊𐤅𐤕 𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤄𐤔𐤒𐤅𐤕 𐤌𐤄𐤌 𐤉𐤏𐤓 𐤑𐤅𐤌𐤇 𐤏𐤑𐤉𐤌
עָשִׂ֥יתִי לִ֖י בְּרֵכ֣וֹת מָ֑יִם לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת מֵהֶ֔ם יַ֖עַר צוֹמֵ֥חַ עֵצִֽים׃ ‘ā·śî·ṯî lî bə·rê·ḵō·wṯ mā·yim lə·haš·qō·wṯ mê·hem ya·‘ar ṣō·w·mê·aḥ ‘ê·ṣîm — WLC · 6
7
I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds… and flocks than anyone… in Jerusalem before me,
𐤒𐤍𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤔𐤐𐤇𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤂𐤌 𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤋𐤉 𐤄𐤓𐤁𐤄 𐤁𐤒𐤓 𐤌𐤒𐤍𐤄 𐤅𐤑𐤀𐤍 𐤌𐤊𐤋 𐤔𐤄𐤉𐤅 𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤋𐤉 𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉
קָנִ֙יתִי֙ עֲבָדִ֣ים וּשְׁפָח֔וֹת וּבְנֵי־ בַ֖יִת גַּ֣ם הָ֣יָה לִ֑י הַרְבֵּה֙ בָקָ֨ר מִקְנֶה֩ וָצֹ֤אן מִכֹּ֛ל שֶֽׁהָי֥וּ הָ֣יָה לִ֔י בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ לְפָנַ֖י qā·nî·ṯî ‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm ū·šə·p̄ā·ḥō·wṯ ū·ḇə·nê- ḇa·yiṯ gam hā·yāh lî har·bêh ḇā·qār miq·neh wā·ṣōn mik·kōl še·hā·yū hā·yāh lî bî·rū·šā·lim lə·p̄ā·nay — WLC · 7
8
and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men— many concubines.
𐤂𐤌 𐤊𐤍𐤎𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤉 𐤊𐤎𐤐 𐤅𐤆𐤄𐤁 𐤅𐤎𐤂𐤋𐤕 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤄𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤅𐤕 𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤉 𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤔𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤕𐤏𐤍𐤅𐤂𐤕 𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤔𐤃𐤄 𐤅𐤔𐤃𐤅𐤕
גַּם־ כָּנַ֤סְתִּי לִי֙ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וּסְגֻלַּ֥ת מְלָכִ֖ים וְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹת עָשִׂ֨יתִי לִ֜י שָׁרִ֣ים וְשָׁר֗וֹת וְתַעֲנוּגֹ֛ת בְּנֵ֥י הָאָדָ֖ם שִׁדָּ֥ה וְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃ gam- kā·nas·tî lî ke·sep̄ wə·zā·hāḇ ū·sə·ḡul·laṯ mə·lā·ḵîm wə·ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ ‘ā·śî·ṯî lî šā·rîm wə·šā·rō·wṯ wə·ṯa·‘ă·nū·ḡōṯ bə·nê hā·’ā·ḏām šid·dāh wə·šid·dō·wṯ — WLC · 8
9
So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me…; and my wisdom remained with me.
𐤅𐤂𐤃𐤋𐤕𐤉 𐤅𐤄𐤅𐤎𐤐𐤕𐤉 𐤌𐤊𐤋 𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤔𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤀𐤐 𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤕𐤉 𐤏𐤌𐤃𐤄 𐤋𐤉
וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּי מִכֹּ֛ל בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם שֶׁהָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖י אַ֥ף חָכְמָתִ֖י עָ֥מְדָה לִּֽי׃ wə·ḡā·ḏal·tî wə·hō·w·sap̄·tî mik·kōl bî·rū·šā·lim še·hā·yāh lə·p̄ā·nay ’ap̄ ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯî ‘ā·mə·ḏāh lî — WLC · 9
10
Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself… I refused my heart no… pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
𐤅𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉 𐤔𐤀𐤋𐤅 𐤋𐤀 𐤀𐤑𐤋𐤕𐤉 𐤌𐤄𐤌 𐤌𐤍𐤏𐤕𐤉 𐤀𐤕 𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤋𐤀 𐤌𐤊𐤋 𐤔𐤌𐤇𐤄 𐤊𐤉 𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤔𐤌𐤇 𐤌𐤊𐤋 𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤉 𐤅𐤆𐤄 𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤇𐤋𐤒𐤉 𐤌𐤊𐤋 𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤉
וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֵינַ֔י שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ לֹ֥א אָצַ֖לְתִּי מֵהֶ֑ם מָנַ֨עְתִּי אֶת־ לִבִּ֜י לֹֽא־ מִכָּל־ שִׂמְחָ֗ה כִּֽי־ לִבִּ֤י שָׂמֵ֙חַ֙ מִכָּל־ עֲמָלִ֔י וְזֶֽה־ הָיָ֥ה חֶלְקִ֖י מִכָּל־ עֲמָלִֽי׃ wə·ḵōl ’ă·šer ‘ê·nay šā·’ă·lū lō ’ā·ṣal·tî mê·hem mā·na‘·tî ’eṯ- lib·bî lō- mik·kāl śim·ḥāh kî- lib·bî śā·mê·aḥ mik·kāl ‘ă·mā·lî wə·zeh- hā·yāh ḥel·qî mik·kāl ‘ă·mā·lî — WLC · 10
11
Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and [what] I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤌𐤏𐤔𐤉 𐤉𐤃𐤉 𐤔𐤏𐤔𐤅 𐤅𐤁𐤏𐤌𐤋 𐤔𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤄𐤍𐤄 𐤄𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤁𐤋 𐤅𐤓𐤏𐤅𐤕 𐤓𐤅𐤇 𐤅𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤉𐤕𐤓𐤅𐤍 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔
אֲנִ֗י וּפָנִ֣יתִֽי בְּכָל־ מַעֲשַׂי֙ יָדַ֔י שֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּ וּבֶֽעָמָ֖ל שֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֙בֶל֙ וּרְע֣וּת ר֔וּחַ וְאֵ֥ין יִתְר֖וֹן תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ ’ă·nî ū·p̄ā·nî·ṯî bə·ḵāl ma·‘ă·śay yā·ḏay še·‘ā·śū ū·ḇe·‘ā·māl še·‘ā·mal·tî la·‘ă·śō·wṯ wə·hin·nêh hak·kōl he·ḇel ū·rə·‘ūṯ rū·aḥ wə·’ên yiṯ·rō·wn ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·meš — WLC · 11
The Wise and the Foolish
12
Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what [more] can the king’s vvv successor… do than what has already been accomplished?
𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤓𐤀𐤅𐤕 𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤄𐤅𐤋𐤋𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤎𐤊𐤋𐤅𐤕 𐤊𐤉 𐤌𐤄 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤄𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤔𐤉𐤁𐤅𐤀 𐤀𐤇𐤓𐤉 𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤊𐤁𐤓 𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤄𐤅
אֲנִי֙ וּפָנִ֤יתִֽי לִרְא֣וֹת חָכְמָ֔ה וְהוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְסִכְל֑וּת כִּ֣י׀ מֶ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הָאָדָ֗ם שֶׁיָּבוֹא֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ כְּבָ֖ר עָשֽׂוּהוּ׃ ’ă·nî ū·p̄ā·nî·ṯî lir·’ō·wṯ ḥāḵ·māh wə·hō·w·lê·lō·wṯ wə·siḵ·lūṯ kî meh ham·me·leḵ hā·’ā·ḏām še·yā·ḇō·w ’a·ḥă·rê ’êṯ ’ă·šer- kə·ḇār ‘ā·śū·hū — WLC · 12
13
And I saw that wisdom exceeds… folly, just as light exceeds… darkness:
𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤓𐤀𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤔𐤉𐤔 𐤋𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄 𐤉𐤕𐤓𐤅𐤍 𐤌𐤍 𐤄𐤎𐤊𐤋𐤅𐤕 𐤄𐤀𐤅𐤓 𐤊𐤉𐤕𐤓𐤅𐤍 𐤌𐤍 𐤄𐤇𐤔𐤊
אָ֔נִי וְרָאִ֣יתִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה יִתְר֛וֹן מִן־ הַסִּכְל֑וּת הָא֖וֹר כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן מִן־ הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ ’ā·nî wə·rā·’î·ṯî še·yêš la·ḥā·ḵə·māh yiṯ·rō·wn min- has·siḵ·lūṯ hā·’ō·wr kî·ṯə·rō·wn min- ha·ḥō·šeḵ — WLC · 13
14
The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.
𐤄𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤁𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤅 𐤅𐤄𐤊𐤎𐤉𐤋 𐤄𐤅𐤋𐤊 𐤁𐤇𐤔𐤊 𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤂𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤃𐤏𐤕𐤉 𐤀𐤇𐤃 𐤔𐤌𐤒𐤓𐤄 𐤉𐤒𐤓𐤄 𐤀𐤕 𐤊𐤋𐤌
הֶֽחָכָם֙ עֵינָ֣יו בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהַכְּסִ֖יל הוֹלֵ֑ךְ בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ אָ֔נִי גַם־ וְיָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶחָ֖ד שֶׁמִּקְרֶ֥ה יִקְרֶ֥ה אֶת־ כֻּלָּֽם׃ he·ḥā·ḵām ‘ê·nāw bə·rō·šōw wə·hak·kə·sîl hō·w·lêḵ ba·ḥō·šeḵ ’ā·nî ḡam- wə·yā·ḏa‘·tî ’e·ḥāḏ šem·miq·reh yiq·reh ’eṯ- kul·lām — WLC · 14
15
So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤕𐤉 𐤁𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤊𐤌𐤒𐤓𐤄 𐤄𐤊𐤎𐤉𐤋 𐤂𐤌 𐤉𐤒𐤓𐤍𐤉 𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤋𐤌𐤄 𐤀𐤆 𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤉𐤅𐤕𐤓 𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤕𐤉 𐤅𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤕𐤉 𐤁𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤆𐤄 𐤔𐤂𐤌 𐤄𐤁𐤋
אֲנִ֜י וְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽי בְּלִבִּ֗י כְּמִקְרֵ֤ה הַכְּסִיל֙ גַּם־ יִקְרֵ֔נִי אֲנִ֣י וְלָ֧מָּה אָ֣ז אֲנִ֖י יוֹתֵ֑ר חָכַ֛מְתִּי וְדִבַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י זֶ֖ה שֶׁגַּם־ הָֽבֶל׃ ’ă·nî wə·’ā·mar·tî bə·lib·bî kə·miq·rêh hak·kə·sîl gam- yiq·rê·nî ’ă·nî wə·lām·māh ’āz ’ă·nî yō·w·ṯêr ḥā·ḵam·tî wə·ḏib·bar·tî ḇə·lib·bî zeh šeg·gam- hā·ḇel — WLC · 15
16
For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!
𐤊𐤉 𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤋𐤏𐤅𐤋𐤌 𐤆𐤊𐤓𐤅𐤍 𐤋𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤏𐤌 𐤄𐤊𐤎𐤉𐤋 𐤁𐤔𐤊𐤁𐤓 𐤄𐤊𐤋 𐤍𐤔𐤊𐤇 𐤄𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤁𐤀𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤀𐤉𐤊 𐤄𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤉𐤌𐤅𐤕 𐤏𐤌 𐤄𐤊𐤎𐤉𐤋
כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין לְעוֹלָ֑ם זִכְר֧וֹן לֶחָכָ֛ם עִֽם־ הַכְּסִ֖יל בְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞ר הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁכָּ֔ח הַיָּמִ֤ים הַבָּאִים֙ וְאֵ֛יךְ הֶחָכָ֖ם יָמ֥וּת עִֽם־ הַכְּסִֽיל׃ kî ’ên lə·‘ō·w·lām ziḵ·rō·wn le·ḥā·ḵām ‘im- hak·kə·sîl bə·šek·kə·ḇār hak·kōl niš·kāḥ hay·yā·mîm hab·bā·’îm wə·’êḵ he·ḥā·ḵām yā·mūṯ ‘im- hak·kə·sîl — WLC · 16
17
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
𐤅𐤔𐤍𐤀𐤕𐤉 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤇𐤉𐤉𐤌 𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤔𐤍𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔 𐤓𐤏 𐤏𐤋𐤉 𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤁𐤋 𐤅𐤓𐤏𐤅𐤕 𐤓𐤅𐤇
וְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־ הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים כִּ֣י הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ רַ֤ע עָלַי֙ כִּֽי־ הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃ wə·śā·nê·ṯî ’eṯ- ha·ḥay·yîm kî ham·ma·‘ă·śeh šen·na·‘ă·śāh ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·meš ra‘ ‘ā·lay kî- hak·kōl he·ḇel ū·rə·‘ūṯ rū·aḥ — WLC · 17
The Futility of Work
18
I hated all for which I had toiled… under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤀𐤕 𐤅𐤔𐤍𐤀𐤕𐤉 𐤊𐤋 𐤔𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤉 𐤏𐤌𐤋 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔 𐤔𐤀𐤍𐤉𐤇𐤍𐤅 𐤋𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤔𐤉𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤀𐤇𐤓𐤉
אֲנִי֙ אֶת־ וְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽי כָּל־ שֶׁאֲנִ֥י עֲמָלִ֔י עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ שֶׁ֣אַנִּיחֶ֔נּוּ לָאָדָ֖ם שֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרָֽי׃ ’ă·nî ’eṯ- wə·śā·nê·ṯî kāl- še·’ă·nî ‘ă·mā·lî ‘ā·mêl ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·meš še·’an·nî·ḥen·nū lā·’ā·ḏām še·yih·yeh ’a·ḥă·rāy — WLC · 18
19
And who knows whether [that man] will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.
𐤅𐤌𐤉 𐤉𐤅𐤃𐤏 𐤉𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤄𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤀𐤅 𐤎𐤊𐤋 𐤅𐤉𐤔𐤋𐤈 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤉 𐤔𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤕𐤉 𐤅𐤔𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤕𐤉 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔 𐤆𐤄 𐤂𐤌 𐤄𐤁𐤋
וּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֗עַ יִהְיֶה֙ הֶֽחָכָ֤ם א֣וֹ סָכָ֔ל וְיִשְׁלַט֙ בְּכָל־ עֲמָלִ֔י שֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּי וְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ זֶ֖ה גַּם־ הָֽבֶל׃ ū·mî yō·w·ḏê·a‘ yih·yeh he·ḥā·ḵām ’ōw sā·ḵāl wə·yiš·laṭ bə·ḵāl ‘ă·mā·lî še·‘ā·mal·tî wə·še·ḥā·ḵam·tî ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·meš zeh gam- hā·ḇel — WLC · 19
20
So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.
𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤅𐤎𐤁𐤅𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤉𐤀𐤔 𐤀𐤕 𐤏𐤋 𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤏𐤌𐤋 𐤔𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤕𐤉 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔
אֲנִ֖י לִבִּ֑י וְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽי לְיַאֵ֣שׁ אֶת־ עַ֚ל כָּל־ הֶ֣עָמָ֔ל שֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּי תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ ’ă·nî lib·bî wə·sab·bō·w·ṯî lə·ya·’êš ’eṯ- ‘al kāl- he·‘ā·māl še·‘ā·mal·tî ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·meš — WLC · 20
21
When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.
𐤊𐤉 𐤉𐤔 𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤔𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤅 𐤁𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤁𐤃𐤏𐤕 𐤅𐤁𐤊𐤔𐤓𐤅𐤍 𐤉𐤕𐤍𐤍𐤅 𐤇𐤋𐤒𐤅 𐤅𐤋𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤔𐤋𐤀 𐤏𐤌𐤋 𐤁𐤅 𐤆𐤄 𐤂𐤌 𐤄𐤁𐤋 𐤓𐤁𐤄 𐤅𐤓𐤏𐤄
כִּי־ יֵ֣שׁ אָדָ֗ם שֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹ בְּחָכְמָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן יִתְּנֶ֣נּוּ חֶלְק֔וֹ וּלְאָדָ֞ם שֶׁלֹּ֤א עָֽמַל־ בּוֹ֙ זֶ֥ה גַּם־ הֶ֖בֶל רַבָּֽה׃ וְרָעָ֥ה kî- yêš ’ā·ḏām še·‘ă·mā·lōw bə·ḥā·ḵə·māh ū·ḇə·ḏa·‘aṯ ū·ḇə·ḵiš·rō·wn yit·tə·nen·nū ḥel·qōw ū·lə·’ā·ḏām šel·lō ‘ā·mal- bōw zeh gam- he·ḇel rab·bāh wə·rā·‘āh — WLC · 21
22
For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?
𐤊𐤉 𐤌𐤄 𐤋𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤅 𐤋𐤁𐤅 𐤅𐤁𐤓𐤏𐤉𐤅𐤍 𐤔𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤏𐤌𐤋 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔
כִּ֠י מֶֽה־ לָֽאָדָם֙ הֹוֶ֤ה בְּכָל־ עֲמָל֔וֹ לִבּ֑וֹ וּבְרַעְי֖וֹן שֶׁה֥וּא עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ kî meh- lā·’ā·ḏām hō·weh bə·ḵāl ‘ă·mā·lōw lib·bō ū·ḇə·ra‘·yō·wn še·hū ‘ā·mêl ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·meš — WLC · 22
23
Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile…
𐤊𐤉 𐤊𐤋 𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤅 𐤌𐤊𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤌 𐤏𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤊𐤏𐤎 𐤂𐤌 𐤁𐤋𐤉𐤋𐤄 𐤋𐤁𐤅 𐤋𐤀 𐤔𐤊𐤁 𐤆𐤄 𐤂𐤌 𐤄𐤁𐤋 𐤄𐤅𐤀
כִּ֧י כָל־ יָמָ֣יו מַכְאֹבִ֗ים עִנְיָנ֔וֹ וָכַ֙עַס֙ גַּם־ בַּלַּ֖יְלָה לִבּ֑וֹ לֹא־ שָׁכַ֣ב זֶ֖ה גַּם־ הֶ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃ kî ḵāl yā·māw maḵ·’ō·ḇîm ‘in·yā·nōw wā·ḵa·‘as gam- bal·lay·lāh lib·bōw lō- šā·ḵaḇ zeh gam- he·ḇel hū — WLC · 23
24
Nothing [is] better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy -… his work. I have also seen that this [is] from the hand of God.
𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤁𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤔𐤉𐤀𐤊𐤋 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤅𐤄𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤀𐤕 𐤍𐤐𐤔𐤅 𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤁𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤅 𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤂𐤌 𐤓𐤀𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤊𐤉 𐤆𐤄 𐤄𐤉𐤀 𐤌𐤉𐤃 𐤄𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌
אֵֽין־ ט֤וֹב בָּאָדָם֙ שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֔ה וְהֶרְאָ֧ה אֶת־ נַפְשׁ֛וֹ ט֖וֹב בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ אָ֔נִי גַּם־ רָאִ֣יתִי כִּ֛י זֹה֙ הִֽיא׃ מִיַּ֥ד הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים ’ên- ṭō·wḇ bā·’ā·ḏām še·yō·ḵal wə·šā·ṯāh wə·her·’āh ’eṯ- nap̄·šōw ṭō·wḇ ba·‘ă·mā·lōw ’ā·nî gam- rā·’î·ṯî kî zōh hî mî·yaḏ hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — WLC · 24
25
For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?
𐤊𐤉 𐤇𐤅𐤑 𐤌𐤌𐤍𐤉 𐤌𐤉 𐤉𐤀𐤊𐤋 𐤅𐤌𐤉 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤔
כִּ֣י ח֥וּץ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ מִ֥י יֹאכַ֛ל וּמִ֥י יָח֖וּשׁ kî ḥūṣ mim·men·nî mî yō·ḵal ū·mî yā·ḥūš — WLC · 25
26
To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating [that which] he will hand over to one who pleases… God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
𐤊𐤉 𐤋𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤔𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤍𐤕𐤍 𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤃𐤏𐤕 𐤅𐤔𐤌𐤇𐤄 𐤅𐤋𐤇𐤅𐤈𐤀 𐤍𐤕𐤍 𐤏𐤍𐤉𐤍 𐤋𐤀𐤎𐤅𐤐 𐤅𐤋𐤊𐤍𐤅𐤎 𐤋𐤕𐤕 𐤋𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 𐤆𐤄 𐤂𐤌 𐤄𐤁𐤋 𐤅𐤓𐤏𐤅𐤕 𐤓𐤅𐤇
כִּ֤י לְאָדָם֙ שֶׁטּ֣וֹב לְפָנָ֔יו נָתַ֛ן חָכְמָ֥ה וְדַ֖עַת וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ נָתַ֨ן עִנְיָ֜ן לֶאֱס֣וֹף וְלִכְנ֗וֹס לָתֵת֙ לְטוֹב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים זֶ֥ה גַּם־ הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃ kî lə·’ā·ḏām šeṭ·ṭō·wḇ lə·p̄ā·nāw nā·ṯan ḥāḵ·māh wə·ḏa·‘aṯ wə·śim·ḥāh wə·la·ḥō·w·ṭe nā·ṯan ‘in·yān le·’ĕ·sō·wp̄ wə·liḵ·nō·ws lā·ṯêṯ lə·ṭō·wḇ lip̄·nê hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm zeh gam- he·ḇel ū·rə·‘ūṯ rū·aḥ — WLC · 26