Chapter 2

1I said to myself, “Come, I will treat you to merriment. Taste mirth!” That too, I found, was futile.

a-MAR-tee a-NEE b'-li-BEE, le-KHA-na a-na-s'-KHA b'-sim-KHA u-r'-EH b'-TOV, v'-hi-NEH gam-HU ha-VEL

אאָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּלִבִּ֔י לְכָה־נָּ֛א אֲנַסְּכָ֥ה בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּרְאֵ֣ה בְט֑וֹב וְהִנֵּ֥ה גַם־ה֖וּא הָֽבֶל׃

2Of revelry I said, “It's mad!” Of merriment, “What good is that?”

בלִשְׂח֖וֹק אָמַ֣רְתִּי מְהוֹלָ֑ל וּלְשִׂמְחָ֖ה מַה־זֹּ֥ה עֹשָֽׂה׃

3I ventured to tempt my flesh with wine, and to grasp folly, while letting my mind direct with wisdom, to the end that I might learn which of the two was better for men to practice in their few days of life under heaven.

tar-TI b'-li-BEE lim-SHOCH ba-YA-yin et b'-sa-REE v'-li-BEE no-HEG ba-KHA-kh'-MAH v'-le-e-KHOZ b'-sikh-LOOT ad a-SHER er-EH ay-ZEH tov liv-NAY ha-a-DAM a-SHER ya-a-SU ta-KHAT ha-sha-MA-yim mis-PAHR y'-MAY kha-YAY-hem

גתַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י לִמְשׁ֥וֹךְ בַּיַּ֖יִן אֶת־בְּשָׂרִ֑י וְלִבִּ֞י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽחׇכְמָה֙ וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז בְּסִכְל֔וּת עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר־אֶרְאֶ֗ה אֵי־זֶ֨ה ט֜וֹב לִבְנֵ֤י הָאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַעֲשׂוּ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּיהֶֽם׃

4I multiplied my possessions. I built myself houses and I planted vineyards.

hi-g'-DAL-tee ma-a-SA-yi, ba-nee-TEE LEE ba-TEEM, na-ta-TEE LEE k'-ra-MEEM

דהִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי מַעֲשָׂ֑י בָּנִ֤יתִי לִי֙ בָּתִּ֔ים נָטַ֥עְתִּי לִ֖י כְּרָמִֽים׃

5I laid out gardens and groves, in which I planted every kind of fruit tree.

a-SEE-tee LEE ga-NOT u-far-day-SEEM v'-na-TA-tee va-HEM AYTZ kol PE-ree

העָשִׂ֣יתִי לִ֔י גַּנּ֖וֹת וּפַרְדֵּסִ֑ים וְנָטַ֥עְתִּי בָהֶ֖ם עֵ֥ץ כׇּל־פֶּֽרִי׃

6I constructed pools of water, enough to irrigate a forest shooting up with trees.

a-SEE-tee LEE b'-RE-khot MA-yim l'-hash-KOT may-HEM YA-ar tzo-MAY-akh ay-TZEEM

ועָשִׂ֥יתִי לִ֖י בְּרֵכ֣וֹת מָ֑יִם לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת מֵהֶ֔ם יַ֖עַר צוֹמֵ֥חַ עֵצִֽים׃

7I bought male and female slaves, and I acquired stewards. I also acquired more cattle, both herds and flocks, than all who were before me in Yerushalayim.

ka-NI-tee a-va-DEEM u-she-fa-KHOT u-ve-NAY ba-YEET ha-YA lee gam mik-NEH va-KAR va-TZON ha-RE-beh ha-YA lee mi-KOL she-ha-YU le-fa-NAI bi-ru-sha-LA-im

זקָנִ֙יתִי֙ עֲבָדִ֣ים וּשְׁפָח֔וֹת וּבְנֵי־בַ֖יִת הָ֣יָה לִ֑י גַּ֣ם מִקְנֶה֩ בָקָ֨ר וָצֹ֤אן הַרְבֵּה֙ הָ֣יָה לִ֔י מִכֹּ֛ל שֶֽׁהָי֥וּ לְפָנַ֖י בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

8I further amassed silver and gold and treasures of kings and provinces; and I got myself male and female singers, as well as the luxuries of commoners—coffers and coffers of them.

ka-NA-sti li gam-KE-sef v'-za-HAV u-se-gu-LAT me-la-KHEEM v'-ha-m'-di-NOT a-see-TEE li sha-REEM v'-sha-ROT v'-ta-a-NU-got b'-nay ha-a-DAM shi-DAH v'-shi-DOT

חכָּנַ֤סְתִּי לִי֙ גַּם־כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וּסְגֻלַּ֥ת מְלָכִ֖ים וְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹת עָשִׂ֨יתִי לִ֜י שָׁרִ֣ים וְשָׁר֗וֹת וְתַעֲנֻג֛וֹת בְּנֵ֥י הָאָדָ֖ם שִׁדָּ֥ה וְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃

9Thus, I gained more wealth than anyone before me in Yerushalayim. In addition, my wisdom remained with me:

v'-ga-DAL-ti v'-ho-SAFTI mi-KOL she-ha-YAH l'-fa-NAI bi-ru-sha-LA-yim, af khokh-ma-TEE a-m'-DAH LEE

טוְגָדַ֣לְתִּי וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּי מִכֹּ֛ל שֶׁהָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖י בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם אַ֥ף חׇכְמָתִ֖י עָ֥מְדָה לִּֽי׃

10I withheld from my eyes nothing they asked for, and denied myself no enjoyment; rather, I got enjoyment out of all my wealth. And that was all I got out of my wealth.

v'-KOL a-SHER sha-a-LU a-NAI lo a-TZAL-tee ME-hem, lo ma-NA-tee et li-BEE mi-KOL sim-KHA, kee li-BEE sa-MAY-aKH mi-KOL a-MA-lee, v'-ZEH-ha-YA khel-KEE mi-KOL a-MA-lee.

יוְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ עֵינַ֔י לֹ֥א אָצַ֖לְתִּי מֵהֶ֑ם לֹֽא־מָנַ֨עְתִּי אֶת־לִבִּ֜י מִכׇּל־שִׂמְחָ֗ה כִּֽי־לִבִּ֤י שָׂמֵ֙חַ֙ מִכׇּל־עֲמָלִ֔י וְזֶֽה־הָיָ֥ה חֶלְקִ֖י מִכׇּל־עֲמָלִֽי׃

11Then my thoughts turned to all the fortune my hands had built up, to the wealth I had acquired and won—and oh, it was all futile and pursuit of wind; there was no real value under the sun!

u-fa-NI-ti a-NEE b'-kol ma-a-SAI she-a-SU ya-DAI u-ve-a-MAL she-a-MAL-tee la-a-SOT, v'-hi-NEH ha-KOL he-VEL u-re-UT ru-ACH, v'-AYN yit-ROHN ta-KHAT ha-SHA-mesh

יאוּפָנִ֣יתִֽי אֲנִ֗י בְּכׇל־מַעֲשַׂי֙ שֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּ יָדַ֔י וּבֶֽעָמָ֖ל שֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֙בֶל֙ וּרְע֣וּת ר֔וּחַ וְאֵ֥ין יִתְר֖וֹן תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

12For what will the man be like who will succeed the one who is ruling over what was built up long ago? My thoughts also turned to appraising wisdom and madness and folly.*

u-fa-NEE-tee a-NEE li-ROT kha-KH'-mah v'-ho-LE-lot v'-sikh-LOOT kee MEH ha-a-DAM she-ya-VO a-kha-RAY ha-ME-lekh et a-SHER k'-VAR a-SU-hu

יבוּפָנִ֤יתִֽי אֲנִי֙ לִרְא֣וֹת חׇכְמָ֔ה וְהוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְסִכְל֑וּת כִּ֣י ׀ מֶ֣ה הָאָדָ֗ם שֶׁיָּבוֹא֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־כְּבָ֖ר עָשֽׂוּהוּ׃

13I found that Wisdom is superior to folly As light is superior to darkness;

v'-ra-EE-tee a-NEE she-YESH y'-troN la-KHOKH-mah min ha-sikh-LOOT ki-t'-roN ha-OR min ha-KHO-shekh

יגוְרָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ יִתְר֛וֹן לַֽחׇכְמָ֖ה מִן־הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר מִן־הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

14A wise man has his eyes in his head, Whereas a fool walks in darkness. But I also realized that the same fate awaits them both.

he-KHA-kham e-NAV be-RO-sho, v'-ha-KE-seel ba-KHO-shekh ho-LEKH, v'-ya-DA-tee gam-a-NEE, she-mi-KE-reh e-KHAD yik-REH et-KU-lam.

ידהֶֽחָכָם֙ עֵינָ֣יו בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהַכְּסִ֖יל בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ הוֹלֵ֑ךְ וְיָדַ֣עְתִּי גַם־אָ֔נִי שֶׁמִּקְרֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד יִקְרֶ֥ה אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃

15So I reflected: “The fate of the fool is also destined for me; to what advantage, then, have I been wise?” And I came to the conclusion that that too was futile,

v'-a-MAR-ti a-NEE b'-li-BEE k'-mi-KRE ha-ke-SIL gam a-NEE yik-RE-NEE v'-la-MAH cha-kaam-TEE a-NEE aZ yo-TAYR v'-di-BAR-ti b'-li-BEE she-gam-ZEH ha-VEL

טווְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽי אֲנִ֜י בְּלִבִּ֗י כְּמִקְרֵ֤ה הַכְּסִיל֙ גַּם־אֲנִ֣י יִקְרֵ֔נִי וְלָ֧מָּה חָכַ֛מְתִּי אֲנִ֖י אָ֣ז יֹתֵ֑ר וְדִבַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י שֶׁגַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃

16because the wise man, just like the fool, is not remembered forever; for, as the succeeding days roll by, both are forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies, just like the fool!

KI eyn zikh-RON le-KHA-kham im ha-ke-SIL le-o-LAM, be-SHE-kh'VAR ha-ya-MIM ha-ba-EEM, ha-KOL nish-KAKH, ve-EKH ya-MUT he-KHA-kham im ha-ke-SIL.

טזכִּי֩ אֵ֨ין זִכְר֧וֹן לֶחָכָ֛ם עִֽם־הַכְּסִ֖יל לְעוֹלָ֑ם בְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞ר הַיָּמִ֤ים הַבָּאִים֙ הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁכָּ֔ח וְאֵ֛יךְ יָמ֥וּת הֶחָכָ֖ם עִֽם־הַכְּסִֽיל׃

17And so I loathed life. For I was distressed by all that goes on under the sun, because everything is futile and pursuit of wind.

v'-sa-NEE et ha-KHA-yim, KEE ra a-LAI ha-ma-a-SEH she-na-a-SA ta-KHAT ha-sha-MESH, KEE ha-KOL he-VEL u-re-UT ru-ACH.

יזוְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים כִּ֣י רַ֤ע עָלַי֙ הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ כִּֽי־הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

18So, too, I loathed all the wealth that I was gaining under the sun. For I shall leave it to the man who will succeed me—

v'-sa-NEE a-NEE et-KOL a-ma-LEE she-a-NEE a-MEL ta-KHAT ha-SHA-mesh, she-a-NEE-khe-NU la-a-DAM she-yi-HE-yeh a-cha-RAI

יחוְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽי אֲנִי֙ אֶת־כׇּל־עֲמָלִ֔י שֶׁאֲנִ֥י עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ שֶׁ֣אַנִּיחֶ֔נּוּ לָאָדָ֖ם שֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרָֽי׃

19and who knows whether he will be wise or foolish?—and he will control all the wealth that I gained by toil and wisdom under the sun. That too is futile.

u-mee yo-DE-a ha-KHA-kham yi-HE-yeh o sa-KHAL v'-yish-LAT b'-kol a-ma-LEE she-a-mal-TEE v'-she-cha-KHAM-tee TA-khat ha-SHA-mesh gam-ZEH ha-VEL

יטוּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֗עַ הֶֽחָכָ֤ם יִהְיֶה֙ א֣וֹ סָכָ֔ל וְיִשְׁלַט֙ בְּכׇל־עֲמָלִ֔י שֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּי וְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ גַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃

20And so I came to view with despair all the gains I had made under the sun.

v'-sa-BO-tee a-NEE l'-ya-AYSH et li-BEE al kol he-a-MAL she-a-MAL-tee ta-KHAT ha-SHA-mesh

כוְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽי אֲנִ֖י לְיַאֵ֣שׁ אֶת־לִבִּ֑י עַ֚ל כׇּל־הֶ֣עָמָ֔ל שֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּי תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

21For sometimes a person whose fortune was made with wisdom, knowledge, and skill must hand it on to be the portion of somebody who did not toil for it. That too is futile, and a grave evil.

ki-YESH a-DAM she-a-MA-lo b'-kho-KH-ma u-v'-da-AT u-v'-khi-SHON u-l'-a-DAM she-lo a-MAL-BO yi-t'-NE-nu khel-KO gam-ZEH he-VEL v'-ra-AH ra-BAH

כאכִּי־יֵ֣שׁ אָדָ֗ם שֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹ בְּחׇכְמָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן וּלְאָדָ֞ם שֶׁלֹּ֤א עָֽמַל־בּוֹ֙ יִתְּנֶ֣נּוּ חֶלְק֔וֹ גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וְרָעָ֥ה רַבָּֽה׃

22For what does a man get for all the toiling and worrying he does under the sun?

KI meh-ho-VAH la-a-DAM b'-kol a-MA-lo u-va-ra-I-NO l'-EE-VO, she-HU a-MEL ta-KHAT ha-SHA-mesh

כבכִּ֠י מֶֽה־הֹוֶ֤ה לָֽאָדָם֙ בְּכׇל־עֲמָל֔וֹ וּבְרַעְי֖וֹן לִבּ֑וֹ שְׁה֥וּא עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

23All his days his thoughts are grief and heartache, and even at night his mind has no respite. That too is futile!

ki kol-ya-MAV makh-o-VIM va-ka-AZ in-ya-NO gaM-ba-la-YLA lo-sha-KHAV li-BO gaM-ZEH he-VEL HU

כגכִּ֧י כׇל־יָמָ֣יו מַכְאֹבִ֗ים וָכַ֙עַס֙ עִנְיָנ֔וֹ גַּם־בַּלַּ֖יְלָה לֹא־שָׁכַ֣ב לִבּ֑וֹ גַּם־זֶ֖ה הֶ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃

24There is nothing worthwhile for a man but to eat and drink and afford himself enjoyment with his means. And even that, I noted, comes from Hashem.

AYN-TOV ba-a-DAM she-YO-khal v'-sha-TAH v'-her-AH et-NAF-sho TOV ba-a-MA-lo GAM-ZO ra-EE-tee a-NEE kee mi-YAD ha-e-lo-HEEM HEE

כדאֵֽין־ט֤וֹב בָּאָדָם֙ שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֔ה וְהֶרְאָ֧ה אֶת־נַפְשׁ֛וֹ ט֖וֹב בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ גַּם־זֹה֙ רָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי כִּ֛י מִיַּ֥ד הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽיא׃

25For who eats and who enjoys but myself?

ki mi yo-KHAL u-mi ya-KHUSH KHUTZ mi-ME-ni

כהכִּ֣י מִ֥י יֹאכַ֛ל וּמִ֥י יָח֖וּשׁ ח֥וּץ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

26To the man, namely, who pleases Him He has given the wisdom and shrewdness to enjoy himself; and to him who displeases, He has given the urge to gather and amass—only for handing on to one who is pleasing to Hashem. That too is futile and pursuit of wind.

ki le-a-DAM she-TOV le-fa-NAV na-TAN choch-MAH v'-da-AT v'-sim-CHA, v'-la-cho-TET na-TAN in-YAN le-e-SOF v'-likh-NOS la-TET le-TOV lif-NEI ha-e-LO-HIM, gam-ZEH he-VEL u-re-UT ru-ACH

כוכִּ֤י לְאָדָם֙ שֶׁטּ֣וֹב לְפָנָ֔יו נָתַ֛ן חׇכְמָ֥ה וְדַ֖עַת וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ נָתַ֨ן עִנְיָ֜ן לֶאֱסֹ֣ף וְלִכְנ֗וֹס לָתֵת֙ לְטוֹב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃