- 1I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּלִבִּ֔י לְכָה נָּ֛א אֲנַסְּכָ֛ה בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּרְאֵ֣ה בְט֑וֹב וְהִנֵּ֥ה גַם ה֖וּא הָֽבֶל
- 2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?לִשְׂח֖וֹק אָמַ֣רְתִּי מְהוֹלָ֑ל וּלְשִׂמְחָ֖ה מַה זֹּ֥ה עֹשָֽׂה
- 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.תַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י לִמְשׁ֥וֹךְ בַּיַּ֖יִן אֶת בְּשָׂרִ֑י וְלִבִּ֞י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז בְּסִכְל֔וּת עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר אֶרְאֶ֗ה אֵי זֶ֨ה ט֜וֹב לִבְנֵ֤י הָאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַעֲשׂוּ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּיהֶֽם
- 4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:הִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי מַעֲשָׂ֑י בָּנִ֤יתִי בָּתִּ֔ים נָטַ֥עְתִּי כְּרָמִֽים
- 5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:עָשִׂ֣יתִי גַּנּ֖וֹת וּפַרְדֵּסִ֑ים וְנָטַ֥עְתִּי עֵ֥ץ כָּל פֶּֽרִי
- 6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:עָשִׂ֥יתִי בְּרֵכ֣וֹת מָ֑יִם לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת יַ֖עַר צוֹמֵ֥חַ עֵצִֽים
- 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:קָנִ֨יתִי֙ עֲבָדִ֣ים וּשְׁפָח֔וֹת וּבְנֵי בַ֖יִת הָ֣יָה גַּ֣ם מִקְנֶה֩ בָקָ֨ר וָצֹ֤אן הַרְבֵּה֙ הָ֣יָה מִכֹּ֛ל שֶֽׁהָי֥וּ לְפָנַ֖י בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם
- 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.כָּנַ֤סְתִּי גַּם כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וּסְגֻלַּ֥ת מְלָכִ֖ים וְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹת עָשִׂ֨יתִי שָׁרִ֣ים וְשָׁר֗וֹת וְתַעֲנוּגֹ֛ת בְּנֵ֥י הָאָדָ֖ם שִׁדָּ֥ה וְשִׁדּֽוֹת
- 9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּי מִכֹּ֛ל שֶׁהָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖י בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם אַ֥ף חָכְמָתִ֖י עָ֥מְדָה
- 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.וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ עֵינַ֔י לֹ֥א אָצַ֖לְתִּי לֹֽא מָנַ֨עְתִּי אֶת לִבִּ֜י מִכָּל שִׂמְחָ֗ה כִּֽי לִבִּ֤י שָׂמֵ֨חַ֙ מִכָּל עֲמָלִ֔י וְזֶֽה הָיָ֥ה חֶלְקִ֖י מִכָּל עֲמָלִֽי
- 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.וּפָנִ֣יתִֽי אֲנִ֗י בְּכָל מַעֲשַׂי֙ שֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּ יָדַ֔י וּבֶֽעָמָ֖ל שֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֨בֶל֙ וּרְע֣וּת ר֔וּחַ וְאֵ֥ין יִתְר֖וֹן תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ
- 12And 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.וּפָנִ֤יתִֽי אֲנִי֙ לִרְא֣וֹת חָכְמָ֔ה וְהוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְסִכְל֑וּת כִּ֣י מֶ֣ה הָאָדָ֗ם שֶׁיָּבוֹא֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר כְּבָ֖ר עָשֽׂוּהוּ
- 13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.וְרָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ יִתְר֛וֹן לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה מִן הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר מִן הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ
- 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.הֶֽחָכָם֙ עֵינָ֣יו בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהַכְּסִ֖יל בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ הוֹלֵ֑ךְ וְיָדַ֣עְתִּי גַם אָ֔נִי שֶׁמִּקְרֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד יִקְרֶ֥ה אֶת כֻּלָּֽם
- 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.וְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽי אֲנִ֜י בְּלִבִּ֗י כְּמִקְרֵ֤ה הַכְּסִיל֙ גַּם אֲנִ֣י יִקְרֵ֔נִי וְלָ֧מָּה חָכַ֛מְתִּי אֲנִ֖י אָ֣ז יוֹתֵ֑ר וְדִבַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י שֶׁגַּם זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל
- 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.כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין זִכְר֧וֹן לֶחָכָ֛ם עִֽם הַכְּסִ֖יל לְעוֹלָ֑ם בְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞ר הַיָּמִ֤ים הַבָּאִים֙ הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁכָּ֔ח וְאֵ֛יךְ יָמ֥וּת הֶחָכָ֖ם עִֽם הַכְּסִֽיל
- 17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.וְשָׂנֵ֨אתִי֙ אֶת הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים כִּ֣י רַ֤ע עָלַי֙ הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ כִּֽי הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ
- 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.וְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽי אֲנִי֙ אֶת כָּל עֲמָלִ֔י שֶׁאֲנִ֥י עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ שֶׁ֣אַנִּיחֶ֔נּוּ לָאָדָ֖ם שֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרָֽי
- 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.וּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֗עַ הֶֽחָכָ֤ם יִהְיֶה֙ א֣וֹ סָכָ֔ל וְיִשְׁלַט֙ בְּכָל עֲמָלִ֔י שֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּי וְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ גַּם זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל
- 20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.וְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽי אֲנִ֖י לְיַאֵ֣שׁ אֶת לִבִּ֑י עַ֚ל כָּל הֶ֣עָמָ֔ל שֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּי תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ
- 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.כִּי יֵ֣שׁ אָדָ֗ם שֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹ בְּחָכְמָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן וּלְאָדָ֞ם שֶׁלֹּ֤א עָֽמַל יִתְּנֶ֣נּוּ חֶלְק֔וֹ גַּם זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וְרָעָ֥ה רַבָּֽה
- 22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?כִּ֠י מֶֽה הֹוֶ֤ה לָֽאָדָם֙ בְּכָל עֲמָל֔וֹ וּבְרַעְי֖וֹן לִבּ֑ו שֶׁה֥וּא עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ
- 23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.כִּ֧י כָל יָמָ֣יו מַכְאֹבִ֗ים וָכַ֨עַס֙ עִנְיָנ֔וֹ גַּם בַּלַּ֖יְלָה לֹא שָׁכַ֣ב לִבּ֑וֹ גַּם זֶ֖ה הֶ֥בֶל הֽוּא
- 24There 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.אֵֽין ט֤וֹב בָּאָדָם֙ שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֔ה וְהֶרְאָ֧ה אֶת נַפְשׁ֛וֹ ט֖וֹב בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ גַּם זֹה֙ רָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי כִּ֛י מִיַּ֥ד הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽיא
- 25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?כִּ֣י מִ֥י יֹאכַ֛ל וּמִ֥י יָח֖וּשׁ ח֥וּץ מִמֶּֽנִּי
- 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.כִּ֤י לְאָדָם֙ שֶׁטּ֣וֹב לְפָנָ֔יו נָתַ֛ן חָכְמָ֥ה וְדַ֖עַת וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ נָתַ֨ן עִנְיָ֜ן לֶאֱס֣וֹף וְלִכְנ֗וֹס לָתֵת֙ לְטוֹב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים גַּם זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ
Ecclesiastes 2 KJV
Read Ecclesiastes chapter 2 in the King James Version alongside the tagged Hebrew source text and YHWSA's chapter-specific lexical research. Select any verse to open YHWSA's concordance, gematria, Qabala, metaphysical, Neville Goddard, comparison, and note-taking tools.
Ecclesiastes 2 original-language research
The Hebrew lines shown beneath the KJV text come from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (OSHB) data in YHWSA. The chapter vocabulary below is ranked from verse-level Strong's tagging; grammatical particles are omitted so meaningful terms remain visible.
368 tagged Hebrew tokens141 distinct lexical entries26 of 26 verses source-tagged
גַּםH1571
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
אֲנִיH589
I
כִּיH3588
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֵבH3820
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
אָדָםH120
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
עָמָלH5999
toil, i.e., wearing effort; hence, worry, whether of body or mind
עָשָׂהH6213
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
הֶבֶלH1892
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
זֶהH2088
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
תַּחַתH8478
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
Hebrew verse gematria
YHWSA calculates these totals directly from every consonant in the tagged Hebrew source line using the Carlo Suarès letter-number system; vowel points and cantillation marks do not add values. The totals are not reverse-mapped from English. A matching number is a comparison to investigate, not proof that two passages mean the same thing.
Lexical definitions describe possible word ranges, not automatic interpretations of a verse. See the concordance guide, gematria method, and source policy.
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