Bible for Life LogoBible for Life
HomeSEARCHMapBlog
  1. Home
  2. ›HEB
  3. ›Ecclesiastes
  4. ›Chapter 2
Bible for Life LogoBible for Life

Discover amazing scripture and community stories. Stay connected with people who share your passion for faith through our blog and studies.

© 2026 Bible for Life. All rights reserved.

The Edified Edition (EDE) © 2026. All rights reserved.

Explore

  • About Us
  • Edified Edition
  • Places of Worship
  • Bible Map
  • Downloads
  • Pilgrim Passport
  • Blog

Learn

  • Bible
  • Reading Plan
  • Hebrew
  • Greek
  • Quizzes

Support

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Cookie Policy
  • Site Map

Ecclesiastes

Chapter 2
1
Phonetic (Hebrew): ama֤retּiֽy 'aniy֙ bּelibּi֔y lekah-nּa֛ 'anasּeka֛h beshsimecha֖h ure'e֣h bet֑ob vehinּe֥h gam-h֖u haֽbel׃
Edified Edition (EDE)I said in my heart, "Go to now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure:" and, behold, this also is vanity.

אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּלִבִּ֔י לְכָה־נָּ֛א אֲנַסְּכָ֛ה בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּרְאֵ֣ה בְט֑וֹב וְהִנֵּ֥ה גַם־ה֖וּא הָֽבֶל׃

2
Phonetic (Hebrew): lishsech֖oq 'ama֣retּiy mehola֑l uleshsimecha֖h mah-zּo֥h 'oshsaֽh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)I said of laughter, "It is mad:" and of mirth, "What does it?"

לִשְׂח֖וֹק אָמַ֣רְתִּי מְהוֹלָ֑ל וּלְשִׂמְחָ֖ה מַה־זֹּ֥ה עֹשָֽׂה׃

3
Phonetic (Hebrew): tּa֣retּiy belibּi֔y limeshsh֥oke bּayּa֖yin 'et-bּeshsari֑y velibּi֞y nohe֤g bּaֽchakemah֙ vele'echo֣z bּesikel֔ut 'a֣d 'ashsher-'ere'e֗h 'ey-ze֨h t֜ob libene֤y ha'adam֙ 'ashshe֤r ya'ashsu֙ tּa֣chat hashshּama֔yim misepּa֖r yeme֥y chayּeyheֽm׃
Edified Edition (EDE)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.

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

4
Phonetic (Hebrew): higedּa֖letּiy ma'ashsa֑y bּani֤ytiy liy֙ bּatּi֔ym nata֥'etּiy li֖y kּeramiֽym׃
Edified Edition (EDE)I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards:

הִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי מַעֲשָׂ֑י בָּנִ֤יתִי לִי֙ בָּתִּ֔ים נָטַ֥עְתִּי לִ֖י כְּרָמִֽים׃

5
Phonetic (Hebrew): ashsi֣ytiy li֔y gּanּ֖ot uparedּesi֑ym venata֥'etּiy bahe֖m 'e֥tz kּal-pּeֽriy׃
Edified Edition (EDE)I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

עָשִׂ֣יתִי לִ֔י גַּנּ֖וֹת וּפַרְדֵּסִ֑ים וְנָטַ֥עְתִּי בָהֶ֖ם עֵ֥ץ כָּל־פֶּֽרִי׃

6
Phonetic (Hebrew): ashsi֥ytiy li֖y bּerek֣ot ma֑yim lehashsheq֣ot mehe֔m ya֖'ar tzome֥cha 'etziֽym׃
Edified Edition (EDE)I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that brings forth trees:

עָשִׂ֥יתִי לִ֖י בְּרֵכ֣וֹת מָ֑יִם לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת מֵהֶ֔ם יַ֖עַר צוֹמֵ֥חַ עֵצִֽים׃

7
Phonetic (Hebrew): qani֨ytiy֙ 'abadi֣ym ushshepach֔ot ubeney-ba֖yit ha֣yah li֑y gּa֣m miqeneh֩ baqa֨r vatzo֤'n harebּeh֙ ha֣yah li֔y mikּo֛l shsheֽhay֥u lepana֖y bּiyrushshalaiֽm׃
Edified Edition (EDE)I got 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:

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

8
Phonetic (Hebrew): kּana֤setּiy liy֙ gּam-kּe֣sep vezaha֔b usegulּa֥t melaki֖ym vehamּediyn֑ot 'ashsi֨ytiy li֜y shshari֣ym veshshar֗ot veta'anugo֛t bּene֥y ha'ada֖m shshidּa֥h veshshidּֽot׃
Edified Edition (EDE)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 sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

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

9
Phonetic (Hebrew): vegada֣letּiy vehosa֔petּiy mikּo֛l shshehaya֥h lepana֖y bּiyrushshala֑im 'a֥p chakemati֖y 'a֥medah lּiֽy׃
Edified Edition (EDE)So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּי מִכֹּ֛ל שֶׁהָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖י בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם אַ֥ף חָכְמָתִ֖י עָ֥מְדָה לִּֽי׃

10
Phonetic (Hebrew): vekol֙ 'ashshe֣r shshaֽ'al֣u 'eyna֔y lo֥ 'atza֖letּiy mehe֑m loֽ'-mana֨'etּiy 'et-libּi֜y mikּal-shsimecha֗h kּiֽy-libּi֤y shsame֨cha֙ mikּal-'amali֔y vezeֽh-haya֥h cheleqi֖y mikּal-'amaliֽy׃
Edified Edition (EDE)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 labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ עֵינַ֔י לֹ֥א אָצַ֖לְתִּי מֵהֶ֑ם לֹֽא־מָנַ֨עְתִּי אֶת־לִבִּ֜י מִכָּל־שִׂמְחָ֗ה כִּֽי־לִבִּ֤י שָׂמֵ֨חַ֙ מִכָּל־עֲמָלִ֔י וְזֶֽה־הָיָ֥ה חֶלְקִ֖י מִכָּל־עֲמָלִֽי׃

11
Phonetic (Hebrew): upani֣ytiֽy 'ani֗y bּekal-ma'ashsay֙ shsheֽ'ashs֣u yada֔y ubeֽ'ama֖l shshe'ama֣letּiy la'ashs֑ot vehinּe֨h hakּo֥l he֨bel֙ ure'֣ut r֔ucha ve'e֥yn yiter֖on tּa֥chat hashshּaֽmeshsh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

וּפָנִ֣יתִֽי אֲנִ֗י בְּכָל־מַעֲשַׂי֙ שֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּ יָדַ֔י וּבֶֽעָמָ֖ל שֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֨בֶל֙ וּרְע֣וּת ר֔וּחַ וְאֵ֥ין יִתְר֖וֹן תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

12
Phonetic (Hebrew): upani֤ytiֽy 'aniy֙ lire'֣ot chakema֔h veholel֖ot vesikel֑ut kּi֣y ׀ me֣h ha'ada֗m shsheyּabo'֙ 'achare֣y hamּe֔leke 'e֥t 'ashsher-kּeba֖r 'ashsֽuhu׃
Edified Edition (EDE)And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that comes after the king? even that which has been already done.

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

13
Phonetic (Hebrew): vera'i֣ytiy 'a֔niy shsheyּe֥shsh yiter֛on laֽchakema֖h min-hasּikel֑ut kּiֽyter֥on ha'֖or min-hachoֽshsheke׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.

וְרָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ יִתְר֛וֹן לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה מִן־הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר מִן־הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

14
Phonetic (Hebrew): heֽchakam֙ 'eyna֣yv bּero'shsh֔o vehakּesi֖yl bּacho֣shsheke hole֑ke veyada֣'etּiy gam-'a֔niy shshemּiqere֥h 'echa֖d yiqere֥h 'et-kּulּaֽm׃
Edified Edition (EDE)The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happens to them all.

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

15
Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'ama֨retּiֽy 'ani֜y bּelibּi֗y kּemiqere֤h hakּesiyl֙ gּam-'ani֣y yiqere֔niy vela֧mּah chaka֛metּiy 'ani֖y 'a֣z yote֑r vedibּa֣retּiy belibּi֔y shshegּam-ze֖h haֽbel׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Then said I in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

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

16
Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiy֩ 'e֨yn ziker֧on lechaka֛m 'iֽm-hakּesi֖yl le'ola֑m bּeshshekּeba֞r hayּami֤ym habּa'iym֙ hakּo֣l nishshekּa֔ch ve'e֛yke yam֥ut hechaka֖m 'iֽm-hakּesiֽyl׃
Edified Edition (EDE)For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dies the wise man? as the fool.

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

17
Phonetic (Hebrew): veshsane֨'tiy֙ 'et-ha֣chayּi֔ym kּi֣y ra֤ 'alay֙ haֽmּa'ashse֔h shshenּa'ashsa֖h tּa֣chat hashshּa֑meshsh kּiֽy-hakּo֥l he֖bel ure'֥ut rֽucha׃
Edified Edition (EDE)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.

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

18
Phonetic (Hebrew): veshsane֤'tiֽy 'aniy֙ 'et-kּal-'amali֔y shshe'ani֥y 'ame֖l tּa֣chat hashshּa֑meshsh shshe֣'anּiyche֔nּu la'ada֖m shsheyּiheye֥h 'acharaֽy׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Yes, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it to the man that shall be after me.

וְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽי אֲנִי֙ אֶת־כָּל־עֲמָלִ֔י שֶׁאֲנִ֥י עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ שֶׁ֣אַנִּיחֶ֔נּוּ לָאָדָ֖ם שֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרָֽי׃

19
Phonetic (Hebrew): umi֣y yode֗'a heֽchaka֤m yiheyeh֙ '֣o saka֔l veyishshelat֙ bּekal-'amali֔y shsheֽ'ama֥letּiy veshshechaka֖metּiy tּa֣chat hashshּa֑meshsh gּam-ze֖h haֽbel׃
Edified Edition (EDE)And who knows whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shown myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

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

20
Phonetic (Hebrew): vesabּ֥otiֽy 'ani֖y leya'e֣shsh 'et-libּi֑y 'a֚l kּal-he֣'ama֔l shshe'ama֖letּiy tּa֥chat hashshּaֽmeshsh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

וְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽי אֲנִ֖י לְיַאֵ֣שׁ אֶת־לִבִּ֑י עַ֚ל כָּל־הֶ֣עָמָ֔ל שֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּי תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

21
Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiy-ye֣shsh 'ada֗m shshe'amal֛o bּechakema֥h ubeda֖'at ubekishsher֑on ule'ada֞m shshelּo֤ 'aֽmal-bּo֙ yitּene֣nּu cheleq֔o gּam-ze֥h he֖bel vera'a֥h rabּaֽh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that has not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

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

22
Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֠y meֽh-hove֤h laֽ'adam֙ bּekal-'amal֔o ubera'ey֖on libּ֑v shsheh֥u 'ame֖l tּa֥chat hashshּaֽmeshsh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)For what has man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he has laboured under the sun?

כִּ֠י מֶֽה־הֹוֶ֤ה לָֽאָדָם֙ בְּכָל־עֲמָל֔וֹ וּבְרַעְי֖וֹן לִבּ֑ו שֶׁה֥וּא עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

23
Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֧y kal-yama֣yv make'obi֗ym vaka֨'as֙ 'ineyan֔o gּam-bּalּa֖yelah lo'-shshaka֣b libּ֑o gּam-ze֖h he֥bel hֽu'׃
Edified Edition (EDE)For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yes, his heart takes not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

כִּ֧י כָל־יָמָ֣יו מַכְאֹבִ֗ים וָכַ֨עַס֙ עִנְיָנ֔וֹ גַּם־בַּלַּ֖יְלָה לֹא־שָׁכַ֣ב לִבּ֑וֹ גַּם־זֶ֖ה הֶ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃

24
Phonetic (Hebrew): eֽyn-t֤ob bּa'adam֙ shsheyּo'ka֣l veshshata֔h vehere'a֧h 'et-napeshsh֛o t֖ob bּa'amal֑o gּam-zoh֙ ra'i֣ytiy 'a֔niy kּi֛y miyּa֥d ha'elohi֖ym hiֽy'׃
Edified Edition (EDE)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 labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

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

25
Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֣y mi֥y yo'ka֛l umi֥y yach֖ushsh ch֥utz mimּeֽnּiy׃
Edified Edition (EDE)For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

כִּ֣י מִ֥י יֹאכַ֛ל וּמִ֥י יָח֖וּשׁ ח֥וּץ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

26
Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֤y le'adam֙ shshetּ֣ob lepana֔yv nata֛n chakema֥h veda֖'at veshsimecha֑h velachote'֩ nata֨n 'ineya֜n le'es֣op veliken֗os latet֙ letob֙ lipene֣y haֽ'elohi֔ym gּam-ze֥h he֖bel ure'֥ut rֽucha׃
Edified Edition (EDE)For God gives to a man that is good in His sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner He gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

כִּ֤י לְאָדָם֙ שֶׁטּ֣וֹב לְפָנָ֔יו נָתַ֛ן חָכְמָ֥ה וְדַ֖עַת וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ נָתַ֨ן עִנְיָ֜ן לֶאֱס֣וֹף וְלִכְנ֗וֹס לָתֵת֙ לְטוֹב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃