NETBible KJV GRK-HEB XRef Names Arts Hymns

Discovery Box

Ecclesiastes 1:12--4:16

1:12

I the Preacher
<06953>

was king
<04428>

over Israel
<03478>

in Jerusalem
<03389>_.

1:13

And I gave
<05414> (8804)

my heart
<03820>

to seek
<01875> (8800)

and search out
<08446> (8800)

by wisdom
<02451>

concerning all [things] that are done
<06213> (8738)

under heaven
<08064>_:

this sore
<07451>

travail
<06045>

hath God
<0430>

given
<05414> (8804)

to the sons
<01121>

of man
<0120>

to be exercised
<06031> (8800)

therewith. {to be...: or, to afflict them}

1:14

I have seen
<07200> (8804)

all the works
<04639>

that are done
<06213> (8738)

under the sun
<08121>_;

and, behold, all [is] vanity
<01892>

and vexation
<07469>

of spirit
<07307>_.

1:15

[That which is] crooked
<05791> (8794)

cannot
<03201> (8799)

be made straight
<08626> (8800)_:

and that which is wanting
<02642>

cannot
<03201> (8799)

be numbered
<04487> (8736)_.

{that which is wanting: Heb. defect}

1:16

I communed
<01696> (8765)

with mine own heart
<03820>_,

saying
<0559> (8800)_,

Lo, I am come to great estate
<01431> (8689)_,

and have gotten
<03254> (8689)

more wisdom
<02451>

than all [they] that have been before
<06440>

me in Jerusalem
<03389>_:

yea, my heart
<03820>

had great
<07235> (8687)

experience
<07200> (8804)

of wisdom
<02451>

and knowledge
<01847>_.

{had...: Heb. had seen much}

1:17

And I gave
<05414> (8799)

my heart
<03820>

to know
<03045> (8800)

wisdom
<02451>_,

and to know
<03045> (8800)

madness
<01947>

and folly
<05531>_:

I perceived
<03045> (8804)

that this
<01571>

also is vexation
<07475>

of spirit
<07307>_.

1:18

For in much
<07230>

wisdom
<02451>

[is] much
<07230>

grief
<03708>_:

and he that increaseth
<03254> (8686)

knowledge
<01847>

increaseth
<03254> (8686)

sorrow
<04341>_.

2:1

I said
<0559> (8804)

in mine heart
<03820>_,

Go to now
<03212> (8798)_,

I will prove
<05254> (8762)

thee with mirth
<08057>_,

therefore enjoy
<07200> (8798)

pleasure
<02896>_:

and, behold, this also [is] vanity
<01892>_.

2:2

I said
<0559> (8804)

of laughter
<07814>_,

[It is] mad
<01984> (8781)_:

and of mirth
<08057>_,

What
<02090>

doeth
<06213> (8802)

it?

2:3

I sought
<08446> (8804)

in mine heart
<03820>

to give
<04900> (8800)

myself
<01320>

unto wine
<03196>_,

yet acquainting
<05090> (8802)

mine heart
<03820>

with wisdom
<02451>_;

and to lay hold
<0270> (8800)

on folly
<05531>_,

till I might see
<07200> (8799)

what [was] that good
<02896>

for the sons
<01121>

of men
<0120>_,

which they should do
<06213> (8799)

under the heaven
<08064>

all
<04557>

the days
<03117>

of their life
<02416>_.

{to give...: Heb. to draw my flesh with wine} {all...: Heb. the number of the days of their life}

2:4

I made me great
<01431> (8689)

works
<04639>_;

I builded
<01129> (8804)

me houses
<01004>_;

I planted
<05193> (8804)

me vineyards
<03754>_:

2:5

I made
<06213> (8804)

me gardens
<01593>

and orchards
<06508>_,

and I planted
<05193> (8804)

trees
<06086>

in them of all [kind of] fruits
<06529>_:

2:6

I made
<06213> (8804)

me pools
<01295>

of water
<04325>_,

to water
<08248> (8687)

therewith the wood
<03293>

that bringeth forth
<06779> (8802)

trees
<06086>_:

2:7

I got
<07069> (8804)

[me] servants
<05650>

and maidens
<08198>_,

and had servants born
<01121>

in my house
<01004>_;

also I had great
<07235> (8687)

possessions
<04735>

of great
<01241>

and small cattle
<06629>

above all that were in Jerusalem
<03389>

before
<06440>

me: {servants born...: Heb. sons of my house}

2:8

I gathered
<03664> (8804)

me also silver
<03701>

and gold
<02091>_,

and the peculiar treasure
<05459>

of kings
<04428>

and of the provinces
<04082>_:

I gat
<06213> (8804)

me men singers
<07891> (8802)

and women singers
<07891> (8802)_,

and the delights
<08588>

of the sons
<01121>

of men
<0120>_,

[as] musical instruments
<07705> <07705>_,

and that of all sorts. {musical...: Heb. musical instrument and instruments}

2:9

So I was great
<01431> (8804)_,

and increased
<03254> (8689)

more than all that were before
<06440>

me in Jerusalem
<03389>_:

also my wisdom
<02451>

remained
<05975> (8804)

with me.

2:10

And whatsoever mine eyes
<05869>

desired
<07592> (8804)

I kept
<0680> (8804)

not from them, I withheld
<04513> (8804)

not my heart
<03820>

from any joy
<08057>_;

for my heart
<03820>

rejoiced
<08056>

in all my labour
<05999>_:

and this was my portion
<02506>

of all my labour
<05999>_.

2:11

Then I looked
<06437> (8804)

on all the works
<04639>

that my hands
<03027>

had wrought
<06213> (8804)_,

and on the labour
<05999>

that I had laboured
<05998> (8804)

to do
<06213> (8800)_:

and, behold, all [was] vanity
<01892>

and vexation
<07469>

of spirit
<07307>_,

and [there was] no profit
<03504>

under the sun
<08121>_.

2:12

And I turned
<06437> (8804)

myself to behold
<07200> (8800)

wisdom
<02451>_,

and madness
<01947>_,

and folly
<05531>_:

for what [can] the man
<0120>

[do] that cometh
<0935> (8799)

after
<0310>

the king
<04428>_?

[even] that which hath been already
<03528>

done
<06213> (8804)_.

{even...: or, in those things which have been already done}

2:13

Then I saw
<07200> (8804)

that
<03426>

wisdom
<02451>

excelleth
<03504>

folly
<05531>_,

as far as light
<0216>

excelleth
<03504>

darkness
<02822>_.

{that...: Heb. that there is an excellency in wisdom more than in folly, etc}

2:14

The wise man's
<02450>

eyes
<05869>

[are] in his head
<07218>_;

but the fool
<03684>

walketh
<01980> (8802)

in darkness
<02822>_:

and I myself perceived
<03045> (8804)

also that one
<0259>

event
<04745>

happeneth
<07136> (8799)

to them all.

2:15

Then
<0227>

said
<0559> (8804)

I in my heart
<03820>_,

As it happeneth
<04745>

to the fool
<03684>_,

so it happeneth
<07136> (8799)

even to me
<01571>_;

and why was I then more
<03148>

wise
<02449> (8804)_?

Then I said
<01696> (8765)

in my heart
<03820>_,

that this also [is] vanity
<01892>_.

{happeneth even...: Heb. happeneth to me, even to me}

2:16

For [there is] no remembrance
<02146>

of the wise
<02450>

more than
<05973>

of the fool
<03684>

for ever
<05769>_;

seeing that which now
<03528>

[is] in the days
<03117>

to come
<0935> (8802)

shall all be forgotten
<07911> (8738)_.

And how dieth
<04191> (8799)

the wise
<02450>

[man]? as the fool
<03684>_.

2:17

Therefore I hated
<08130> (8804)

life
<02416>_;

because the work
<04639>

that is wrought
<06213> (8738)

under the sun
<08121>

[is] grievous
<07451>

unto me: for all [is] vanity
<01892>

and vexation
<07469>

of spirit
<07307>_.

2:18

Yea, I hated
<08130> (8804)

all my labour
<05999>

which I had taken
<06001>

under the sun
<08121>_:

because I should leave
<03240> (8686)

it unto the man
<0120>

that shall be after
<0310>

me. {taken: Heb. laboured}

2:19

And who knoweth
<03045> (8802)

whether he shall be a wise
<02450>

[man] or a fool
<05530>_?

yet shall he have rule
<07980> (8799)

over all my labour
<05999>

wherein I have laboured
<05998> (8804)_,

and wherein I have shewed myself wise
<02449> (8804)

under the sun
<08121>_.

This [is] also vanity
<01892>_.

2:20

Therefore I went about
<05437> (8804)

to cause
<02976> (0)

my heart
<03820>

to despair
<02976> (8763)

of all the labour
<05999>

which I took
<05998> (8804)

under the sun
<08121>_.

2:21

For there is
<03426>

a man
<0120>

whose labour
<05999>

[is] in wisdom
<02451>_,

and in knowledge
<01847>_,

and in equity
<03788>_;

yet to a man
<0120>

that hath not laboured
<05998> (8804)

therein shall he leave
<05414> (8799)

it [for] his portion
<02506>_.

This also [is] vanity
<01892>

and a great
<07227>

evil
<07451>_.

{leave: Heb. give}

2:22

For what hath
<01933> (8802)

man
<0120>

of all his labour
<05999>_,

and of the vexation
<07475>

of his heart
<03820>_,

wherein
<01931>

he hath laboured
<06001>

under the sun
<08121>_?

2:23

For all his days
<03117>

[are] sorrows
<04341>_,

and his travail
<06045>

grief
<03708>_;

yea, his heart
<03820>

taketh not rest
<07901> (8804)

in the night
<03915>_.

This is also vanity
<01892>_.

2:24

[There is] nothing better
<02896>

for a man
<0120>_,

[than] that he should eat
<0398> (8799)

and drink
<08354> (8804)_,

and [that] he should make his soul
<05315>

enjoy
<07200> (8689)

good
<02896>

in his labour
<05999>_.

This
<02090>

also I saw
<07200> (8804)_,

that it [was] from the hand
<03027>

of God
<0430>_.

{should make...: or, delight his senses}

2:25

For who can eat
<0398> (8799)_,

or who else can hasten
<02363> (8799)

[hereunto], more
<02351>

than I?

2:26

For [God] giveth
<05414> (8804)

to a man
<0120>

that [is] good
<02896>

in his sight
<06440>

wisdom
<02451>_,

and knowledge
<01847>_,

and joy
<08057>_:

but to the sinner
<02398> (8802)

he giveth
<05414> (8804)

travail
<06045>_,

to gather
<0622> (8800)

and to heap up
<03664> (8800)_,

that he may give
<05414> (8800)

to [him that is] good
<02896>

before
<06440>

God
<0430>_.

This also [is] vanity
<01892>

and vexation
<07469>

of spirit
<07307>_.

{in his...: Heb. before him}

3:1

To every [thing there is] a season
<02165>_,

and a time
<06256>

to every purpose
<02656>

under the heaven
<08064>_:

3:2

A time
<06256>

to be born
<03205> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to die
<04191> (8800)_;

a time
<06256>

to plant
<05193> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to pluck up
<06131> (8800)

[that which is] planted
<05193> (8803)_;

{to be...: Heb. to bear}

3:3

A time
<06256>

to kill
<02026> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to heal
<07495> (8800)_;

a time
<06256>

to break down
<06555> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to build up
<01129> (8800)_;

3:4

A time
<06256>

to weep
<01058> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to laugh
<07832> (8800)_;

a time
<06256>

to mourn
<05594> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to dance
<07540> (8800)_;

3:5

A time
<06256>

to cast away
<07993> (8687)

stones
<068>_,

and a time
<06256>

to gather
<03664> (0)

stones
<068>

together
<03664> (8800)_;

a time
<06256>

to embrace
<02263> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to refrain
<07368> (8800)

from embracing
<02263> (8763)_;

{to refrain from: Heb. to be far from}

3:6

A time
<06256>

to get
<01245> (8763)_,

and a time
<06256>

to lose
<06> (8763)_;

a time
<06256>

to keep
<08104> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to cast away
<07993> (8687)_;

{get: or, seek}

3:7

A time
<06256>

to rend
<07167> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to sew
<08609> (8800)_;

a time
<06256>

to keep silence
<02814> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to speak
<01696> (8763)_;

3:8

A time
<06256>

to love
<0157> (8800)_,

and a time
<06256>

to hate
<08130> (8800)_;

a time
<06256>

of war
<04421>_,

and a time
<06256>

of peace
<07965>_.

3:9

What profit
<03504>

hath he that worketh
<06213> (8802)

in that wherein
<0834>

he laboureth
<06001>_?

3:10

I have seen
<07200> (8804)

the travail
<06045>_,

which God
<0430>

hath given
<05414> (8804)

to the sons
<01121>

of men
<0120>

to be exercised
<06031> (8800)

in it.

3:11

He hath made
<06213> (8804)

every [thing] beautiful
<03303>

in his time
<06256>_:

also he hath set
<05414> (8804)

the world
<05769>

in their heart
<03820>_,

so that
<01097>

no man
<0120>

can find out
<04672> (8799)

the work
<04639>

that God
<0430>

maketh
<06213> (8804)

from the beginning
<07218>

to the end
<05490>_.

3:12

I know
<03045> (8804)

that [there is] no good
<02896>

in them, but for [a man] to rejoice
<08055> (8800)_,

and to do
<06213> (8800)

good
<02896>

in his life
<02416>_.

3:13

And also that every man
<0120>

should eat
<0398> (8799)

and drink
<08354> (8804)_,

and enjoy
<07200> (8804)

the good
<02896>

of all his labour
<05999>_,

it [is] the gift
<04991>

of God
<0430>_.

3:14

I know
<03045> (8804)

that, whatsoever God
<0430>

doeth
<06213> (8799)_,

it shall be for ever
<05769>_:

nothing
<0369>

can be put
<03254> (8687)

to it, nor any thing taken
<01639> (8800)

from it: and God
<0430>

doeth
<06213> (8804)

[it], that [men] should fear
<03372> (8799)

before
<06440>

him.

3:15

That which hath been is now
<03528>_;

and that which is to be hath already
<03528>

been; and God
<0430>

requireth
<01245> (8762)

that which is past
<07291> (8737)_.

{that which is past: Heb. that which is driven away}

3:16

And moreover I saw
<07200> (8804)

under the sun
<08121>

the place
<04725>

of judgment
<04941>_,

[that] wickedness
<07562>

[was] there; and the place
<04725>

of righteousness
<06664>_,

[that] iniquity
<07562>

[was] there.

3:17

I said
<0559> (8804)

in mine heart
<03820>_,

God
<0430>

shall judge
<08199> (8799)

the righteous
<06662>

and the wicked
<07563>_:

for [there is] a time
<06256>

there for every purpose
<02656>

and for every work
<04639>_.

3:18

I said
<0559> (8804)

in mine heart
<03820>

concerning the estate
<01700>

of the sons
<01121>

of men
<0120>_,

that God
<0430>

might manifest
<01305> (8800)

them, and that they might see
<07200> (8800)

that they
<01992>

themselves are beasts
<0929>_.

{that God...: or, that they might clear God, and see, etc}

3:19

For that which befalleth
<04745>

the sons
<01121>

of men
<0120>

befalleth
<04745>

beasts
<0929>_;

even one thing
<0259>

befalleth
<04745>

them: as the one dieth
<04194>_,

so dieth
<04194>

the other
<02088>_;

yea, they have all one
<0259>

breath
<07307>_;

so that a man
<0120>

hath no preeminence
<04195>

above a beast
<0929>_:

for all [is] vanity
<01892>_.

3:20

All go
<01980> (8802)

unto one
<0259>

place
<04725>_;

all are of the dust
<06083>_,

and all turn
<07725> (0)

to dust
<06083>

again
<07725> (8804)_.

3:21

Who knoweth
<03045> (8802)

the spirit
<07307>

of man
<01121> <0120>

that goeth
<05927> (8802)

upward
<04605>_,

and the spirit
<07307>

of the beast
<0929>

that goeth
<03381> (8802)

downward
<04295>

to the earth
<0776>_?

{of man: Heb. of the sons of man} {goeth upward: Heb. is ascending, etc}

3:22

Wherefore I perceive
<07200> (8804)

that [there is] nothing better
<02896>_,

than that a man
<0120>

should rejoice
<08055> (8799)

in his own works
<04639>_;

for that [is] his portion
<02506>_:

for who shall bring
<0935> (8686)

him to see
<07200> (8800)

what shall be after
<0310>

him?

4:1

So I returned
<07725> (8804)_,

and considered
<07200> (8799)

all the oppressions
<06217>

that are done
<06213> (8737)

under the sun
<08121>_:

and behold the tears
<01832>

of [such as were] oppressed
<06231> (8803)_,

and they had no comforter
<05162> (8764)_;

and on the side
<03027>

of their oppressors
<06231> (8802)

[there was] power
<03581>_;

but they had no comforter
<05162> (8764)_.

{side: Heb. hand}

4:2

Wherefore I praised
<07623> (8764)

the dead
<04191> (8801)

which are already
<03528>

dead
<04191> (8804)

more than the living
<02416>

which are yet
<05728>

alive
<02416>_.

4:3

Yea, better
<02896>

[is he] than both
<08147>

they, which hath not yet
<05728>

been, who hath not seen
<07200> (8804)

the evil
<07451>

work
<04639>

that is done
<06213> (8738)

under the sun
<08121>_.

4:4

Again, I considered
<07200> (8804)

all travail
<05999>_,

and every right
<03788>

work
<04639>_,

that for this a man
<0376>

is envied
<07068>

of his neighbour
<07453>_.

This [is] also vanity
<01892>

and vexation
<07469>

of spirit
<07307>_.

{every...: Heb. all the rightness of work} {for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour}

4:5

The fool
<03684>

foldeth
<02263> (0)

his hands
<03027>

together
<02263> (8802)_,

and eateth
<0398> (8802)

his own flesh
<01320>_.

4:6

Better
<02896>

[is] an handful
<03709>

[with] quietness
<05183>_,

than both the hands
<02651>

full
<04393>

[with] travail
<05999>

and vexation
<07469>

of spirit
<07307>_.

4:7

Then I returned
<07725> (8804)_,

and I saw
<07200> (8799)

vanity
<01892>

under the sun
<08121>_.

4:8

There is
<03426>

one
<0259>

[alone], and [there is] not a second
<08145>_;

yea, he hath neither child
<01121>

nor brother
<0251>_:

yet [is there] no end
<07093>

of all his labour
<05999>_;

neither is his eye
<05869>

satisfied
<07646> (8799)

with riches
<06239>_;

neither [saith he], For whom do I labour
<06001>_,

and bereave
<02637> (8764)

my soul
<05315>

of good
<02896>_?

This [is] also vanity
<01892>_,

yea, it [is] a sore
<07451>

travail
<06045>_.

4:9

Two
<08147>

[are] better
<02896>

than one
<0259>_;

because they have
<03426>

a good
<02896>

reward
<07939>

for their labour
<05999>_.

4:10

For if they fall
<05307> (8799)_,

the one
<0259>

will lift up
<06965> (8686)

his fellow
<02270>_:

but woe
<0337>

to him [that is] alone
<0259>

when he falleth
<05307> (8799)_;

for [he hath] not another
<08145>

to help him up
<06965> (8687)_.

4:11

Again
<01571>_,

if two
<08147>

lie together
<07901> (8799)_,

then they have heat
<02552> (8804)_:

but how can one
<0259>

be warm
<03179> (8799)

[alone]?

4:12

And if one
<0259>

prevail
<08630> (8799)

against him, two
<08147>

shall withstand
<05975> (8799)

him; and a threefold
<08027> (8794)

cord
<02339>

is not quickly
<04120>

broken
<05423> (8735)_.

4:13

Better
<02896>

[is] a poor
<04542>

and a wise
<02450>

child
<03206>

than an old
<02205>

and foolish
<03684>

king
<04428>_,

who will
<03045> (8804)

no more be admonished
<02094> (8736)_.

{who...: Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished}

4:14

For out of prison
<0631> (8803) <01004>

he cometh
<03318> (8804)

to reign
<04427> (8800)_;

whereas also [he that is] born
<03205> (8738)

in his kingdom
<04438>

becometh poor
<07326> (8802)_.

4:15

I considered
<07200> (8804)

all the living
<02416>

which walk
<01980> (8764)

under the sun
<08121>_,

with the second
<08145>

child
<03206>

that shall stand up
<05975> (8799)

in his stead.

4:16

[There is] no end
<07093>

of all the people
<05971>_,

[even] of all that have been before
<06440>

them: they also that come after
<0314>

shall not rejoice
<08055> (8799)

in him. Surely this also [is] vanity
<01892>

and vexation
<07475>

of spirit
<07307>_.