Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:16

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Limitations of Wisdom

¹² I, the Teacher,^(A) have been^[a] king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ I applied my mind to seek^(B) and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven.^(C) God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied.^{(D) 14} I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.^[b](E)

¹⁶ I said to myself,^[c] “Look, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me,^(G) and my mind has thoroughly grasped^[d] wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷ I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge,^(H) madness and folly;^(I) I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.^[e](J)

The Emptiness of Pleasure

2 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure;^(L) enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. ² I said about laughter,^(M) “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” ³ I explored with my mind how to let my body enjoy life^[f] with wine^(N) and how to grasp folly^(O)—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven^[g] during the few days of their lives.^(P)

The Emptiness of Possessions

⁴ I increased my achievements. I built houses^(Q) and planted vineyards^(R) for myself. ⁵ I made gardens^(S) and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. ⁶ I constructed reservoirs of water for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.^{(T) 7} I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house.^(U) I also owned many herds of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.^{(V) 8} I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.^(W) I gathered male and female singers for myself,^(X) and many concubines, the delights of men.^{[h][i] 9} So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem;^(Y) my wisdom also remained with me. ¹⁰ All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them.^(Z) I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.^{(AA) 11} When I considered all that I had accomplished^[j] and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind.^(AB) There was nothing to be gained under the sun.^(AC)

The Relative Value of Wisdom

¹² Then I turned to consider wisdom,^(AD) madness, and folly, for what will the man be like who comes after the king? He^[k] will do what has already been done.^{(AE) 13} And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.^(AF)

Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both.^{(AH) 15} So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?”^(AI) And I said to myself that this is also futile. ¹⁶ For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man,^(AJ) since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise man dies just like the fool?