Ecclesiastes 2
1 Dixi ergo in corde meo: Vadam, et affluam deliciis, et fruar bonis. Et vidi quod hoc quoque esset vanitas.
So then I thought to myself, “Alright, let me examine pleasure and see how good that is.” But this too turned out to be something temporary that passes.
2 Risum reputavi errorem: et gaudio dixi: Quid frustra deciperis?
I conclude that laughing your way through life is stupid, and pleasure—what use is that?
3 Cogitavi in corde meo abstrahere a vino carnem meam, ut animam meam transferrem ad sapientiam, devitaremque stultitiam, donec viderem quid esset utile filiis hominum: quo facto opus est sub sole numero dierum vitae suae.
Then I used my mind to examine the attraction of wine to my body. My mind still guiding me with wisdom, I took it until I acted like a fool, so that I might see whether this was good for people to do during their time here.
4 Magnificavi opera mea, aedificavi mihi domos, et plantavi vineas,
Then I tried great construction projects. I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.
5 feci hortos, et pomaria, et consevi ea cuncti generis arboribus,
I made for myself gardens and parks, planting them with all kinds of fruit trees.
6 et extruxi mihi piscinas aquarum, ut irrigarem silvam lignorum germinantium,
I constructed for myself reservoirs to water all these growing trees.
7 possedi servos et ancillas, multamque familiam habui: armenta quoque, et magnos ovium greges ultra omnes qui fuerunt ante me in Ierusalem:
I bought male and female slaves, and their children also belonged to me. I also owned many herds and flocks, more than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
8 coacervavi mihi argentum, et aurum, et substantias regum, ac provinciarum: feci mihi cantores, et cantatrices, et delicias filiorum hominum, scyphos, et urceos in ministerio ad vina fundenda:
I collected for myself great quantities of silver and gold, paid to me as tribute by kings and provinces. I brought in for myself male and female singers, and enjoyed many concubines—all a man could want!
9 et supergressus sum opibus omnes, qui ante me fuerunt in Ierusalem: sapientia quoque perseveravit mecum.
I became great—greater than anyone in Jerusalem before me. All the while my wisdom stayed with me.
10 Et omnia, quae desideraverunt oculi mei, non negavi eis: nec prohibui cor meum quin omni voluptate frueretur, et oblectaret se in his, quae praeparaveram: et hanc ratus sum partem meam, si uterer labore meo.
I didn't stop myself trying anything I wanted. Whatever I felt like enjoying, I did. I even enjoyed everything I had accomplished, a reward for all my work.
11 Cumque me convertissem ad universa opera, quae fecerant manus meae, et ad labores, in quibus frustra sudaveram, vidi in omnibus vanitatem et afflictionem animi, et nihil permanere sub sole.
But when I thought about what I had worked so hard to achieve, everything I'd done, it was so short-lived—as significant as someone trying to catch the wind. There really is no enduring benefit here on earth.
12 Transivi ad contemplandam sapientiam, erroresque et stultitiam (quid est, inquam, homo, ut sequi possit regem Factorem suum?)
So I started to think about wisdom—and madness and foolishness. For what can anyone who comes after the king do that hasn't already been done?
13 et vidi quod tantum praecederet sapientia stultitiam, quantum differt lux a tenebris.
I recognized that wisdom is better than foolishness just as light is better than darkness.
14 Sapientis oculi in capite eius: stultus in tenebris ambulat: et didici quod unus utriusque esset interitus.
The wise see where they're going, but fools walk in darkness. But I also realized that they all come to the same end.
15 Et dixi in corde meo: Si unus et stulti et meus occasus erit, quid mihi prodest quod maiorem sapientiae dedi operam? Locutusque cum mente mea, animadverti quod hoc quoque esset vanitas.
Then I thought to myself, “If I'm going to end up the same as a fool, what's the point of being so wise?” So I thought to myself, “This is also hard to understand!”
16 Non enim erit memoria sapientis similiter ut stulti in perpetuum, et futura tempora oblivione cuncta pariter operient: moritur doctus similiter et indoctus.
Nobody remembers the wise or the fool for very long—in the future everything will be forgotten. Whether wise or foolish, they both die.
17 Et idcirco taeduit me vite meae videntem mala universa esse sub sole, et cuncta vanitatem et afflictionem spiritus.
So I ended up feeling disgusted with life because everything that happens here on earth is so distressing. It's so incomprehensible, like trying to control the wind.
18 Rursus detestatus sum omnem industriam meam, qua sub sole studiosissime laboravi, habiturus heredem post me,
I even ended up hating what I had achieved here on earth because I have to hand it over to whoever comes after me.
19 quem ignoro, utrum sapiens an stultus futurus sit, et dominabitur in laboribus meis, quibus desudavi et solicitus fui. et est quidquam tam vanum?
And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will rule over everything I accomplished through my wisdom here on earth. This is just so frustrating, so hard to understand!
20 Unde cessavi, renunciavitque cor meum ultra laborare sub sole.
I decided to give up, my mind in despair over the significance of all my life's achievements.
21 Nam cum alius laboret in sapientia, et doctrina, et solicitudine, homini otioso quaesita dimittit: et hoc ergo, vanitas, et magnum malum.
For you can work wisely, knowledgably, and with skill—and who benefits? Someone who hasn't worked for it! This is both frustrating and totally unjust!
22 Quid enim proderit homini de universo labore suo, et afflictione spiritus, qua sub sole cruciatus est?
What do you get here on earth for all your hard work and worry?
23 Cuncti dies eius doloribus et aerumnis pleni sunt, nec per noctem mente requiescit: et hoc nonne vanitas est?
Your working life is full of trouble and strife—even at night your thoughts keep you awake. This is tough to comprehend!
24 Nonne melius est comedere et bibere, et ostendere animae suae bona de laboribus suis? et hoc de manu Dei est.
So what's the best thing to do? Eat, drink, and enjoy your work, recognizing as I did that these things are given to us by God,
25 Quis ita devorabit, et deliciis affluet ut ego?
for who can eat or enjoy life apart from him?
26 Homini bono in conspectu suo dedit Deus sapientiam, et scientiam, et laetitiam: peccatori autem dedit afflictionem, et curam superfluam, ut addat, et congreget, et tradat ei qui placuit Deo: sed et hoc vanitas est, et cassa solicitudo mentis.
To those who are good, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy. But to the sinner God gives the task of gathering and collecting wealth, only to hand it over to someone who pleases God. This also shows how fleeting life is, and hard to understand—like trying to understand how the wind blows.
