Ecclesiastes - douay rheims

Chapter 2

¹ I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things. And I saw that this also was vanity.
² Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived?
³ I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.
⁴ I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards,
⁵ I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all kinds,
⁶ And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the young trees,
⁷ I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great family: and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep, above all that were before me in Jerusalem:
⁸ I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine:
⁹ And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my wisdom also remained with me.
¹⁰ And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and delighting itself in the things which I had prepared: and esteemed this my portion, to make use of my own labour.
¹¹ And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun.
¹² I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I, that he can follow the King his maker?)
¹³ And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness.
¹⁴ The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike.
¹⁵ And I said in my heart: If the death of the fool and mine shall be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied myself more to the study of wisdom? And speaking with my own mind, I perceived that this also was vanity.
¹⁶ For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the fool for ever, and the times to come shall cover all things together with oblivion: the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned.
¹⁷ And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit.
¹⁸ Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly laboured under the sun, being like to have an heir after me,
¹⁹ Whom I know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool, and he shall have rule over all my labours with which I have laboured and been solicitous: and is there any thing so vain?
²⁰ Wherefore I left off and my heart renounced labouring any more under the sun.
²¹ For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man: so this also is vanity, and a great evil.
²² For what profit shall a man have of all his labour, and vexation of spirit, with which he bath been tormented under the sun?
²³ All his days axe full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night he doth not rest in mind: and is not this vanity?
²⁴ Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God.
²⁵ Who shall so feast and abound with delights as I?
²⁶ God hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he hath given vexation, and superfluous care, to heap up and to gather together, and to give it to him that hath pleased God: but this also is vanity, and a fruitless solicitude of the mind.

Ecclesiastes - webster

Chapter 2

¹ I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and behold, this also is vanity.
² I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
³ I sought in my heart, to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my 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.
⁴ I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards:
⁵ I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
⁶ I made me pools of water, to water with them the wood that bringeth forth trees:
⁷ I procured 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:
⁸ I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, and of the provinces: I procured me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and of all sorts.
⁹ So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
¹⁰ And whatever my eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor.
¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored 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.
¹³ Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
¹⁴ The 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.
¹⁵ Then 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.
¹⁶ For 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 to me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
¹⁸ Yes, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it to the man that shall be after me.
¹⁹ And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have showed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
²⁰ Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labor which I took under the sun.
²¹ For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not labored in it, shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
²² For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, in which he hath labored under the sun?
²³ For all his days are sorrows, and his labor grief; yes, 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 labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
²⁵ For who can eat, or who else can hasten to it more than I?
²⁶ For God giveth to a man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth toil, to gather, and to amass, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes - world english bible

Chapter 2

¹ said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure;" and behold, this also was vanity.
² said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
³ searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
⁴ made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
⁵ made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
⁶ made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared.
⁷ bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem;
⁸ also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men--musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
⁹ I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
¹⁰ my eyes desired, I didn't keep from them. I didn't withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.
¹¹ I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
¹² turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
¹³ I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
¹⁴ wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness--and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
¹⁵ I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
¹⁶ of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
¹⁷ I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
¹⁸ hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
¹⁹ knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
²⁰ I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
²¹ there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
²² what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?
²³ all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
²⁴ is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
²⁵ who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
²⁶ to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes - darby

Chapter 2

¹ I said in my heart, Come now, I will try thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. But behold, this also is vanity.
² I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it?
³ I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.
⁴ I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;
⁵ I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of every kind of fruit;
⁶ I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood, where the trees are reared.
⁷ I acquired servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that had been in Jerusalem before me.
⁸ I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the children of men, a wife and concubines.
⁹ And I became great, and increased more than all that had been before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
¹⁰ And 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 from all my labour.
¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that it had cost me to do [them]; and behold, all was vanity and pursuit of the wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
¹² And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly; for what shall the man [do] that cometh after the king? -- that which hath already been done.
¹³ And I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as light excelleth darkness.
¹⁴ The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness; but I myself also perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
¹⁵ And I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool so will it happen even to me; and why was I then so wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
¹⁶ For there shall be no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; because everything is already forgotten in the days which come. And how dieth the wise even as the fool?
¹⁷ And I hated life; for the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
¹⁸ And I hated all my labour wherewith I had been toiling under the sun, because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
¹⁹ And who knoweth whether he will be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour at which I have laboured, and wherein I have been wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
²⁰ Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun.
²¹ For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill, and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein, to be his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
²² For what will man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart, wherewith he hath wearied himself under the sun?
²³ For all his days are sorrows, and his travail vexation: even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
²⁴ There is nothing good for man, but 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.
²⁵ For who can eat, or who be eager, more than I?
²⁶ For he 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 in God's sight. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes - american standard version

Chapter 2

¹ I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.
² I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?
³ I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding [me] with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.
⁴ I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;
⁵ I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit;
⁶ I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;
⁷ I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem;
⁸ I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
⁹ So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
¹⁰ And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.
¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, 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 done long ago.
¹³ Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
¹⁴ The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
¹⁵ Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.
¹⁶ For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!
¹⁷ So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
¹⁸ And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
¹⁹ And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
²⁰ Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.
²¹ For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
²² For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?
²³ For all his days are [but] sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
²⁴ There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
²⁵ For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
²⁶ For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth 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 pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes - basic english

Chapter 2

¹ I said in my heart, I will give you joy for a test; so take your pleasure--but it was to no purpose.
² Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy--What use is it?
³ I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life.
⁴ I undertook great works, building myself houses and planting vine-gardens.
⁵ I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts.
⁶ I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees.
⁷ I got men-servants and women-servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
⁸ I got together silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I got makers of song, male and female; and the delights of the sons of men--girls of all sorts to be my brides.
⁹ And I became great; increasing more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom was still with me.
¹⁰ And nothing which was desired by my eyes did I keep from them; I did not keep any joy from my heart, because my heart took pleasure in all my work, and this was my reward.
¹¹ Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
¹² And I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What may the man do who comes after the king? The thing which he has done before.
¹³ Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolish ways--as the light is better than the dark.
¹⁴ The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the foolish man goes walking in the dark; but still I saw that the same event comes to them all.
¹⁵ Then said I in my heart: As it comes to the foolish man, so will it come to me; so why have I been wise overmuch? Then I said in my heart: This again is to no purpose.
¹⁶ Of the wise man, as of the foolish man, there is no memory for ever, seeing that those who now are will have gone from memory in the days to come. See how death comes to the wise as to the foolish!
¹⁷ So I was hating life, because everything under the sun was evil to me: all is to no purpose and desire for wind.
¹⁸ Hate had I for all my work which I had done, because the man who comes after me will have its fruits.
¹⁹ And who is to say if that man will be wise or foolish? But he will have power over all my work which I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This again is to no purpose.
²⁰ So my mind was turned to grief for all the trouble I had taken and all my wisdom under the sun.
²¹ Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand; but one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This again is to no purpose and a great evil.
²² What does a man get for all his work, and for the weight of care with which he has done his work under the sun?
²³ All his days are sorrow, and his work is full of grief. Even in the night his heart has no rest. This again is to no purpose.
²⁴ There is nothing better for a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God.
²⁵ Who may take food or have pleasure without him?
²⁶ To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.