Ecclesiastes 2
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 2
What Good Is It To Be Successful?[a] 1 Then I said to myself, “All right, I will pursue pleasure and the enjoyment of good things.” However, this also proved to be vanity. 2 I regarded laughter as madness and pleasure as vanity. 3 Then, while my mind was guiding me with wisdom, I sought to cheer my body with wine and the pursuit of folly, for I was determined to discover what was the best way for men to spend the few days of their life under the heavens.[b]
4 I undertook grandiose projects. I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made for myself gardens and parks and filled them with every kind of fruit tree. 6 I developed pools that would enable me to water my grove of growing trees.
7 I purchased male and female slaves, and slaves were also born in my house. In addition, I had large herds and flocks, far more than any who had preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 I amassed for myself silver and gold and the treasures of kings and provinces. I acquired singers, both male and female, and every possible human luxury.[c] 9 In this way I became great, and I surpassed all my predecessors in Jerusalem, while my wisdom continued to strengthen me.
10 I did not deny my eyes anything that they coveted,
nor did I deprive my heart of any pleasure.
For I found delight in all my labors,
and this was the reward I had for all my efforts.
11 However, once I began to reflect on all that my hands had accomplished
and the effort I had exerted in achieving it,
I again came to the realization that everything was vanity and a chase after the wind,
and that there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
The Wise Man Must Die No Less than the Fool
12 Then my reflections focused on wisdom
as well as madness and folly,
and I came to the realization that whoever succeeds a king can do nothing,
since everything has already been done.
13 I also came to understand that more is to be gained from wisdom than from folly,[d]
just as light is more profitable than darkness.
14 The wise keep their eyes open,
whereas fools walk in darkness.
And yet at the same time I realized
that the same fate befalls them both.
15 Then I thought to myself,
“If the fate of the fool will also be my fate,
then why have I been wise?
In what way do I profit?”
And I came to the conclusion
that this too is vanity.
16 The wise man is remembered no longer than the fool,
because in the days to come both will have been forgotten.
The wise man must die no less than the fool.
17 As a result, I came to hate life,
since I loathe the work that is done under the sun;
for all is vanity and a chase after the wind.
A Chase after the Wind
18 So Many Labors with the Profit Going to Others.[e] Therefore, I have come to hate all my labor and toil under the sun because I now must bequeath its fruits to my successor.[f] 19 And I have no way of knowing in advance whether he will be wise or a fool. Either way, he will be the master of all the fruits of my work for which I toiled and employed my wisdom under the sun. This too is vanity.
20 As a result, I surrendered to feelings of despair concerning all of my labor and toil here under the sun. 21 For even though a man may labor with wisdom and knowledge and skill, he must leave everything he has to be enjoyed by another who has not toiled for it in any way. This also is vanity and a great misfortune.
22 For what does a man gain from all the toil and effort that he has expended under the sun? 23 His days are filled with pain and his labors are filled with stress. Even at night he has no peace of mind. This also is vanity.
24 The Happiness of Simple Things.[g] There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and to experience pleasure in his achievements. And I also came to realize that this too comes from God’s hand. 25 For without him who could eat or drink?
26 God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to those who please him, but to sinners he gives the task of gathering and amassing wealth that is to be given to someone who pleases him. This also is vanity and a chase after the wind.[h]
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 2:1 Here is a complete experience of life. Nothing is lacking to Qoheleth, neither free spontaneity, nor the rapture of joys and pleasures, nor wisdom itself. He enjoys the best of relationships, and his goods superabound.
- Ecclesiastes 2:3 Under the guidance of wisdom, the author tries all manner of things to discover what is good and worthwhile for himself—i.e., what leads to happiness.
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 And every possible human luxury: the meaning of the Hebrew here is uncertain. Other possible translations are: “and delights of the heart, and many concubines.” All this is in keeping with the reputation of Solomon, who is said to have acquired seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Ki 11:3).
- Ecclesiastes 2:13 More is to be gained from wisdom than from folly: it is better to be wise, just as to walk in light is better than walking in darkness. However, as far as death is concerned, both the wise believer and the foolish unbeliever meet the same fate (see Ps 49:11).
- Ecclesiastes 2:18 One day the best of our efforts will slip out of our hands, and we will lose all control over and use of them. Hence, a radical insecurity and disquietude weigh upon our human condition.
- Ecclesiastes 2:18 Bequeath its fruits to my successor: see verse 21; Ps 39:7; Lk 12:20.
- Ecclesiastes 2:24 The acknowledgment that life is a gift frees us from the deception of time that flies, and this happiness suffices for the ancient sages; Qoheleth is appreciative of this simple happiness, for he knows that true happiness is found only in acknowledging and revering God (Eccl 12:13).
- Ecclesiastes 2:26 Qoheleth finds fault with the teaching of the sages concerning the problem of the wicked who prosper (see Job 27:16-17; Prov 11:8; 13:22). For him, this teaching about divine justice does not seem to be borne out by facts.
