Ecclesiastes 2

King James Version

Full text for Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

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

2I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

3I 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.

4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all [kind of] fruits:

6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

7I 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:

8I 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.

9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

10And 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.

11Then 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¶ 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.

13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

14The 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.

15Then 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.

16For [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¶ 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.

18Yea, 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.

19And 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.

20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

21For 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.

22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

23For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

24[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.

25For who can eat, or who else can hasten [hereunto], more than I?

26For [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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The Preacher recounts his extensive pursuit of pleasure, great works, and wisdom, seeking what is good for mankind. Despite achieving immense wealth and power, he concludes that all these endeavors are ultimately "vanity and vexation of spirit." He observes that both the wise and the fool share the same fate, leading him to despair over his labour. Ultimately, he finds that enjoying one's work is a gift from God, though the sinner's toil remains vanity.

Medium Summary

The Preacher describes his deliberate experimentation with various pursuits to find meaning in life. He first sought joy in mirth, laughter, and wine, but quickly declared them "mad" and "vanity." Next, he embarked on grand projects, building houses, planting vineyards, acquiring vast wealth, servants, and musical delights, surpassing all before him in Jerusalem. Yet, upon reflection, he found all his accomplishments to be "vanity and vexation of spirit," yielding no lasting profit. He then compared wisdom and folly, acknowledging wisdom's superiority, but lamented that both the wise and the fool ultimately face the same oblivion and death. This realization led him to hate life and his labour, knowing he must leave his achievements to an unknown successor, which he also deemed "vanity and a great evil." He concludes that true enjoyment of one's labour is a divine gift, while the sinner's toil is a futile gathering for others, leading to sorrow and unrest.

Long Summary

The Preacher embarks on a profound personal quest to discern what is truly good for humanity under heaven. He begins by testing himself with mirth, laughter, and wine, seeking pleasure, but swiftly declares these pursuits to be "mad" and "vanity." Undeterred, he then devotes himself to monumental undertakings, constructing magnificent houses, planting extensive vineyards, gardens, and orchards, and creating vast pools for irrigation. He amassed an unparalleled retinue of servants, immense herds of cattle, and an abundance of silver and gold, along with the "peculiar treasure of kings." His court was filled with singers and musical instruments of all sorts, making him greater than all who preceded him in Jerusalem, all while retaining his wisdom. Despite fulfilling every desire, he ultimately surveys all his works and labours, concluding that they are "vanity and vexation of spirit," offering "no profit under the sun." Turning his attention to wisdom, madness, and folly, he acknowledges that wisdom surpasses folly as light excels darkness. The wise man's eyes are open, while the fool walks in darkness. However, he perceives that "one event happeneth to them all"—both the wise and the fool die and are forgotten, rendering even wisdom ultimately "vanity." This realization causes him to hate life itself, finding the work done under the sun grievous and full of vexation. He despairs over his labour, knowing he must leave it to a successor whose character, whether wise or foolish, is unknown, deeming this a further "vanity." He laments that a man's diligent labour in wisdom, knowledge, and equity may be left as a portion to one who has not toiled, calling this "vanity and a great evil." The Preacher questions what lasting gain man has from his labour and the vexation of his heart, noting that his days are sorrowful and his heart finds no rest. He then offers a glimmer of insight: there is nothing better than for a man to eat, drink, and enjoy good in his labour, recognizing this capacity as a gift "from the hand of God." For God grants wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those good in His sight, but assigns travail to the sinner, who gathers and heaps up only to ultimately give to the righteous, concluding this too as "vanity and vexation of spirit."

Core Concepts

  • Vanity of PleasureThe Preacher's initial experiment with mirth, laughter, and wine quickly reveals that these pursuits offer no lasting satisfaction and are declared "mad" and "vanity."
  • Vanity of Great WorksDespite achieving immense wealth, power, and grand architectural and agricultural projects, the Preacher finds that all his accomplishments are ultimately "vanity and vexation of spirit" with "no profit under the sun."
  • Vanity of WisdomWhile wisdom is acknowledged as superior to folly, the Preacher observes that both the wise and the fool share the same fate of death and eventual oblivion, rendering even wisdom ultimately "vanity."
  • Despair of Labour and LegacyThe Preacher expresses profound despair over his hard-earned labour, knowing he must leave it to an unknown successor who may be foolish, deeming this transfer of wealth and effort "vanity and a great evil."
  • God's Gift of EnjoymentAmidst the pervasive vanity, the Preacher identifies that the ability to eat, drink, and find joy in one's labour is a rare and precious gift that comes "from the hand of God."
  • Divine Distribution of Toil and JoyGod grants wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who are good in His sight, but assigns travail to the sinner, who gathers and heaps up only to ultimately give to the righteous, illustrating a divine order that still contains elements of "vanity and vexation of spirit" for the unrighteous.