Catholic Public Domain Version

1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, the king of Jerusalem.

2 Ecclesiastes said: Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity!

3 What more does a man have from all his labor, as he labors under the sun?

4 A generation passes away, and a generation arrives. But the earth stands forever.

5 The sun rises and sets; it returns to its place, and from there, being born again,

6 it circles through the south, and arcs toward the north. The spirit continues on, illuminating everything in its circuit, and turning again in its cycle.

7 All rivers enter into the sea, and the sea does not overflow. To the place from which the rivers go out, they return, so that they may flow again.

8 Such things are difficult; man is not able to explain them with words. The eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor is the ear fulfilled by hearing.

9 What is it that has existed? The same shall exist in the future. What is it that has been done? The same shall continue to be done.

10 There is nothing new under the sun. Neither is anyone able to say: “Behold, this is new!” For it has already been brought forth in the ages that were before us.

11 There is no remembrance of the former things. Indeed, neither shall there be any record of past things in the future, for those who will exist at the very end.

12 I, Ecclesiastes, was king of Israel at Jerusalem.

13 And I was determined in my mind to seek and to investigate wisely, concerning all that is done under the sun. God has given this very difficult task to the sons of men, so that they may be occupied by it.

14 I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.

15 The perverse are unwilling to be corrected, and the number of the foolish is boundless.

16 I have spoken in my heart, saying: “Behold, I have achieved greatness, and I have surpassed all the wise who were before me in Jerusalem.” And my mind has contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.

17 And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit.

18 Because of this, with much wisdom there is also much anger. And whoever adds knowledge, also adds hardship.

1 I said in my heart: “I will go forth and overflow with delights, and I will enjoy good things.” And I saw that this, too, is emptiness.

2 Laughter, I considered an error. And to rejoicing, I said: “Why are you being deceived, to no purpose?”

3 I decided in my heart to withdraw my flesh from wine, so that I might bring my mind to wisdom, and turn away from foolishness, until I see what is useful for the sons of men, and what they ought to do under the sun, during the number of the days of their life.

4 I magnified my works. I built houses for myself, and I planted vineyards.

5 I made gardens and orchards. And I planted them with trees of every kind.

6 And I dug out fishponds of water, so that I might irrigate the forest of growing trees.

7 I obtained men and women servants, and I had a great family, as well as herds of cattle and great flocks of sheep, beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem.

8 I amassed for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings and governors. I chose men and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, bowls and pitchers for the purpose of pouring wine.

9 And I surpassed in opulence all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also persevered with me.

10 And all that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. Neither did I prohibit my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and from amusing itself in the things that I had prepared. And I regarded this as my share, as if I were making use of my own labors.

11 But when I turned myself toward all the works that my hands had made, and to the labors in which I had perspired to no purpose, I saw emptiness and affliction of the soul in all things, and that nothing is permanent under the sun.

12 I continued on, so as to contemplate wisdom, as well as error and foolishness. “What is man,” I said, “that he would be able to follow his Maker, the King?”

13 And I saw that wisdom surpasses foolishness, so much so that they differ as much as light from darkness.

14 The eyes of a wise man are in his head. A foolish man walks in darkness. Yet I learned that one would pass away like the other.

15 And I said in my heart: “If the death of both the foolish and myself will be one, how does it benefit me, if I have given myself more thoroughly to the work of wisdom?” And as I was speaking within my own mind, I perceived that this, too, is emptiness.

16 For there will not be a remembrance in perpetuity of the wise, nor of the foolish. And the future times will cover everything together, with oblivion. The learned die in a manner similar to the unlearned.

17 And, because of this, my life wearied me, since I saw that everything under the sun is evil, and everything is empty and an affliction of the spirit.

18 Again, I detested all my efforts, by which I had earnestly labored under the sun, to be taken up by an heir after me,

19 though I know not whether he will be wise or foolish. And yet he will have power over my labors, in which I have toiled and been anxious. And is there anything else so empty?

20 Therefore, I ceased, and my heart renounced further laboring under the sun.

21 For when someone labors in wisdom, and doctrine, and prudence, he leaves behind what he has obtained to one who is idle. So this, too, is emptiness and a great burden.

22 For how can a man benefit from all his labor and affliction of spirit, by which he has been tormented under the sun?

23 All his days have been filled with sorrows and hardships; neither does he rest his mind, even in the night. And is this not emptiness?

24 Is it not better to eat and drink, and to show his soul the good things of his labors? And this is from the hand of God.

25 So who will feast and overflow with delights as much as I have?

26 God has given, to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and rejoicing. But to the sinner, he has given affliction and needless worrying, so as to add, and to gather, and to deliver, to him who has pleased God. But this, too, is emptiness and a hollow worrying of the mind.

1 All things have their time, and all things under heaven continue during their interval.

2 A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pull up what was planted.

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to tear down, and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

6 A time to gain, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away.

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to be silent, and a time to speak.

8 A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What more does a man have from his labor?

10 I have seen the affliction that God has given to the sons of men, in order that they may be occupied by it.

11 He has made all things good in their time, and he has handed over the world to their disputes, so that man may not discover the work which God made from the beginning, even until the end.

12 And I realize that there is nothing better than to rejoice, and to do well in this life.

13 For this is a gift from God: when each man eats and drinks, and sees the good results of his labor.

14 I have learned that all the works which God has made continue on, in perpetuity. We are not able to add anything, nor to take anything away, from those things which God has made in order that he may be feared.

15 What has been made, the same continues. What is in the future, has already existed. And God restores what has passed away.

16 I saw under the sun: instead of judgment, impiety, and instead of justice, iniquity.

17 And I said in my heart: “God will judge the just and the impious, and then the time for each matter shall be.”

18 I said in my heart, about the sons of men, that God would test them, and reveal them to be like wild animals.

19 For this reason, the passing away of man and of beasts is one, and the condition of both is equal. For as a man dies, so also do they die. All things breathe similarly, and man has nothing more than beast; for all these are subject to vanity.

20 And all things continue on to one place; for from the earth they were made, and unto the earth they shall return together.

21 Who knows if the spirit of the sons of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward?

22 And I have discovered nothing to be better than for a man to rejoice in his work: for this is his portion. And who shall add to him, so that he may know the things that will occur after him?

1 I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.

2 And so, I praised the dead more than the living.

3 And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.

4 Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.

5 The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:

6 “A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”

7 While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.

8 He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.

9 Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.

10 If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.

11 And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?

12 And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.

13 Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.

14 For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.

15 I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.

16 The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.

17 Guard your foot, when you step into the house of God, and draw near, so that you may listen. For obedience is much better than the sacrifices of the foolish, who do not know the evil that they are doing.

1 You should not speak anything rashly, nor should your heart be hasty to present a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth. For this reason, let your words be few.

2 Dreams follow many worries, and in many words foolishness will be found.

3 If you have vowed anything to God, you should not delay to repay it. And whatever you have vowed, render it. But an unfaithful and foolish promise displeases him.

4 And it is much better not to make a vow, than, after a vow, not to fulfill what was promised.

5 You should not use your mouth so as to cause your flesh to sin. And you should not say, in the sight of an Angel, “There is no Providence.” For God, being angry at your words, may scatter all the works of your hands.

6 Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities and innumerable words. Yet truly, you must fear God.

7 If you see false accusations against the indigent, and violent judgments, and subverted justice in the government, do not be surprised over this situation. For those in high places have others who are higher, and there are still others, more eminent, over these.

8 But finally, there is the King who rules over the entire earth, which is subject to him.

9 A greedy man will not be satisfied by money. And whoever loves wealth will reap no fruit from it. Therefore, this, too, is emptiness.

10 Where there are many riches, there will also be many to consume these things. And how does it benefit the one who possesses, except that he discerns the wealth with his own eyes?

11 Sleep is sweet to one who works, whether he consumes little or much. But the satiation of a wealthy man will not permit him to sleep.

12 There is even another most burdensome infirmity, which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept to the harm of the owner.

13 For they are lost in a most grievous affliction. He has produced a son, who will be in the utmost destitution.

14 Just as he went forth naked from his mother’s womb, so shall he return, and he shall take nothing with him from his labors.

15 It is an utterly miserable infirmity that, in the same manner as he has arrived, so shall he return. How then does it benefit him, since he has labored for the wind?

16 All the days of his life he consumes: in darkness, and with many worries, and in distress as well as sadness.

17 And so, this has seemed good to me: that a person should eat and drink, and should enjoy the fruits of his labor, in which he has toiled under the sun, for the number of the days of his life that God has given him. For this is his portion.

18 And this is a gift from God: that every man to whom God has given wealth and resources, and to whom he has granted the ability to consume these, may enjoy his portion, and may find joy in his labors.

19 And then he will not fully remember the days of his life, because God occupies his heart with delights.

1 There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.

2 It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.

3 If a man were to produce one hundred children, and to live for many years, and to attain to an age of many days, and if his soul were to make no use of the goods of his resources, and if he were lacking even a burial: concerning such a man, I declare that a miscarried child is better than he.

4 For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.

5 He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.

6 Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?

7 Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.

8 What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?

9 It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit.

10 Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.

11 There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.