Entonces me dije¹: Ven ahora, te probaré con el placer^a; diviértete². Y he aquí, también esto era vanidad. 2 Dije de la risa^a: Es locura; y del placer: ¿Qué logra esto? 3 Consideré en mi mente¹ cómo estimular mi cuerpo² con el vino^a, mientras mi mente³ me guiaba con sabiduría, y cómo echar mano de la insensatez^b, hasta que pudiera ver qué hay de bueno bajo el cielo que los hijos de los hombres hacen en los contados días de su vida^c. 4 ^aEngrandecí mis obras, me edifiqué casas, me planté viñedos^b; 5 me hice jardines^a y huertos^b, y planté en ellos toda clase de árboles frutales; 6 me hice estanques de aguas^a para regar¹ el bosque con árboles en pleno crecimiento. 7 Compré esclavos y esclavas, y tuve esclavos nacidos en casa^1a. Tuve también ganados, vacas y ovejas^b, más que todos los que me precedieron en Jerusalén. 8 Reuní también para mí plata y oro^a y el tesoro de los reyes y de las provincias. Me proveí de cantores y cantoras^b, y de los placeres de los hombres, de muchas concubinas¹. 9 Y me engrandecí y superé a todos los que me precedieron en Jerusalén^a; también la sabiduría permaneció conmigo. 10 Y de todo cuanto mis ojos deseaban, nada les negué^a, ni privé a mi corazón de ningún placer, porque mi corazón gozaba de todo mi trabajo, yesta fue la recompensa de toda mi labor^b. 11 Consideré luego todas las obras que mis manos habían hecho y el trabajo en que me había empeñado¹, y he aquí, todo era vanidad y correr tras el viento^2a, y sin provecho^b bajo el sol.

12 Yo volví, pues, a considerar la sabiduría, la locura y la insensatez^a, porque ¿qué hará el hombre que venga después del rey sino lo que ya ha sido hecho^b? 13 Y yo vi que la sabiduría sobrepasa a la insensatez^a, como la luz a las tinieblas.

15 Entonces me dije¹: Como la suerte del necio, así también será la mía^2a. ¿Para qué, pues, me aprovecha haber sido tan sabio^b? Y me dije³: También esto es vanidad. 16 Porque no hay memoria duradera¹ ni del sabio ni del² necio, ya que todos serán olvidados en los días venideros^a. ¡Cómo mueren tanto el sabio como³ el necio^b! 17 Y aborrecí la vida^a, porque me era penosa¹ la obra que se hace bajo el sol, pues todo es vanidad y correr tras el viento.

18 Asimismo aborrecí todo el fruto de mi trabajo con que me había afanado bajo el sol^a, el cual tendré que dejar al hombre que vendrá después de mí^b. 19 ¿Y quién sabe si será sabio o necio? Sin embargo, él tendrá dominio sobre todo el fruto de mi trabajo con que me afané obrando sabiamente bajo el sol. También esto es vanidad. 20 Por tanto me desesperé en gran manera¹ por todo el fruto de mi trabajo con que me había afanado bajo el sol. 21 Cuando hay un hombre que ha trabajado con sabiduría, con conocimiento y con destreza^a, y da su hacienda¹ al que no ha trabajado en ella^b, esto también es vanidad y un gran mal. 22 Pues, ¿qué recibe el hombre de todo su trabajo y del esfuerzo de su corazón con que se afana bajo el sol^a? 23 Porque durante todos sus días su tarea es dolorosa y penosa^a; ni aun de noche descansa su corazón^b. También esto es vanidad.

24 Nada hay mejor para el hombre que comer y beber y decirse que su trabajo es bueno^1a. Esto también yo he visto que es de la mano de Dios^b. 25 Porque ¿quién comerá y quién se alegrará sin Él¹? 26 Porque a la persona que le agrada¹, Él le ha dado sabiduría, conocimiento^a y gozo; mas al pecador le ha dado la tarea de recoger y amontonar para dárselo al que agrada a² Dios^b. Esto también es vanidad y correr tras el viento^c.

I said ¹to myself, “Come now, I will test you with ^apleasure. So ²enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. 2 ^aI said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” 3 I explored with my ¹mind how to ^astimulate my body with wine while my ²mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of ^bfolly, until I could see ^cwhat good there is for the sons of men ³to do under heaven the few ⁴years of their lives. 4 I enlarged my works: I ^abuilt houses for myself, I planted ^bvineyards for myself; 5 I made ^agardens and ^bparks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made ^aponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and I had ^1ahomeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and ^bherds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and ^agold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself ^bmale and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines.

9 Then I became ^agreat and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10 ^aAll that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my ^breward for all my labor. 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had ¹exerted, and behold all was ^2avanity and striving after wind and there was ^bno profit under the sun.

12 So I turned to ^aconsider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except ^bwhat has already been done? 13 And I saw that ^awisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the ^afool walks in darkness. And yet I know that ^bone fate befalls them both. 15 Then I said ¹to myself, “^aAs is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. ^bWhy then have I been extremely wise?” So ²I said to myself, “This too is vanity.” 16 For there is ^ano ¹lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And ^bhow the wise man and the fool alike die! 17 So I ^ahated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was ¹grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

18 Thus I hated ^aall the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must ^bleave it to the man who will come after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or ^aa fool? Yet he will have ¹control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is ^bvanity. 20 Therefore I ¹completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. 21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and ^askill, then he ^bgives his ¹legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what does a man get in ^aall his labor and in ¹his striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 Because all his days his task is painful and ^agrievous; even at night his ¹mind ^bdoes not rest. This too is vanity.

24 There is ^anothing better for a man than to eat and drink and ¹tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is ^bfrom the hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without ¹Him? 26 For to a person who is good in His sight ^aHe has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may ^bgive to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is ^cvanity and striving after wind.

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with ^apleasure and gratification; so enjoy yourself and have a good time.” But behold, this too was vanity (futility, meaninglessness) . Luke 12:19, 20 2 ^aI said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” 3 I explored with my mind how to ^agratify myself with wine while at the same time having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of ^bfoolishness, until I could see ^cwhat was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4 I made great works: I ^abuilt houses for myself; I planted ^bvineyards for myself; 5 I made ^agardens and ^borchards for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made ^apools of water for myself from which to water the forest and make the trees bud. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had ^aslaves born in my house. I also possessed ^bherds and flocks larger than any who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and ^agold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself ^bmale singers and female singers, and the delights and pleasures of men—¹many ²concubines. 1+@Kin 9:28; 10:10, 14, 21

9 So I became ^agreat and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. 10 ^aWhatever my eyes looked at with desire I did not refuse them. I did not withhold from my heart any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my ^breward for all my labor. 11 Then I considered all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was ^avanity and chasing after the wind and there was ^bno profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun. Matt 16:26

12 So I turned to ^aconsider secular wisdom, madness, and folly; for what will the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing except ^bwhat has already been done. 13 Then I saw that even secular ^awisdom that brings sorrow is better than the pleasures of folly and self-indulgence as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the ^afool walks in darkness; and yet I know that in the end ^bone fate happens to them both. Prov 17:24 15 Then I said to myself, “^aAs it happens to the fool, so death will also happen to me. ^bWhat use is it then for me to be extremely wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This too is vanity (meaningless) .” 16 For there is no more ^alasting remembrance of the wise man than of the fool, since in the days to come all will be long forgotten. And ^bhow does the wise man die? Even as the fool! 17 So I ^ahated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind.

18 So I hated ^aall the fruit (gain) of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must ^bleave it to the man who will succeed me. Ps 49:10 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or ^aa fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is ^bvanity (futility, self-conceit) . 20 So I turned aside and let my heart despair over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. 21 For there is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and ^askill, yet ^bgives his legacy to one who has not labored for it. This too is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what does a man get from ^aall his labor and from the striving and sorrow of his heart with which he labors under the sun? 23 For all his days his work is painful and ^asorrowful; even at night his mind ^bdoes not rest. This too is vanity (worthless) .

24 There is ^anothing better for a man than to eat and drink and assure himself that there is good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is ^bfrom the hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? 26 For to the person who pleases Him ^aGod gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may ^bgive to one who pleases God. This too is ^cvanity and chasing after the wind.

I said ¹to myself, “Come now, I will test you with ^apleasure. So ²enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. 2 ^aI said of laughter, “It is senseless,” and of pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” 3 I explored with my ¹mind how to ^arefresh my body with wine while my ²mind was guiding me wisely; and how to seize ^bfoolishness, until I could see ^cwhat good there is for the sons of mankind ³to do under heaven for the few ⁴years of their lives. 4 I enlarged my works: I ^abuilt houses for myself, I planted ^bvineyards for myself; 5 I made ^agardens and ^bparks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made ^aponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and I had ^1aslaves born at home. I also possessed flocks and ^bherds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 I also amassed for myself silver and ^agold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself ^bmale and female singers, and the pleasures of the sons of mankind: many concubines.

9 Then I became ^agreat and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10 ^aAll that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my ^breward for all my labor. 11 So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had ¹exerted, and behold, all was ^afutility and striving after wind, and there was ^bno benefit under the sun.

12 So I turned to ^aconsider wisdom, insanity, and foolishness; for what will the man do who will come after the king, except ^bwhat has already been done? 13 Then I saw that ^awisdom surpasses foolishness as light surpasses darkness. 14 The wise person’s eyes are in his head, but the ^afool walks in darkness. And yet I know that ^bone and the same fate happens to ¹both of them. 15 Then I said ¹to myself, “^aAs is the fate of the fool, it will also happen to me. ^bWhy then have I been extremely wise?” So ²I said to myself, “This too is futility.” 16 For there is ^ano ¹lasting remembrance of the wise, along with the fool, since in the coming days everything will ²soon be forgotten. And ^bhow the wise and the fool alike die! 17 So I ^ahated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was ¹unhappy to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

18 So I hated ^aall the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must ^bleave it to the man who will come after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or ^aa fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is ^bfutility. 20 Therefore I ¹completely despaired over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. 21 When there is a person who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and ^askill, and then ^bgives his ¹legacy to one who has not labored for it; this too is futility and a great evil. 22 For what does a person get in ^aall his labor and in ¹his striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 Because all his days his activity is painful and ^airritating; even at night his ¹mind ^bdoes not rest. This too is futility.

24 There is ^anothing better for a person than to eat and drink, and show ¹himself some good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is ^bfrom the hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without ¹Him? 26 For to a person who is good in His sight, ^aHe has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may ^bgive to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is ^cfutility and striving after wind.