I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will make a test of pleasure enjoy yourself.’ But again, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, ‘It is mad’, and of pleasure, ‘What use is it?’ I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine-my mind still guiding me with wisdom-and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works I built houses and planted vineyards for myself I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, and many concubines. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow. I said to myself, ‘I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.’ And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains for ever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south, and goes round to the north round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow. All things are wearisome more than one can express the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’? It has already been, in the ages before us. The people of long ago are not remembered, nor will there be any remembrance of people yet to come by those who come after them.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |