The Futility of Self-Indulgent Merry-Making, Materialism and Secular Accomplishments

2:1 I thought to myself,¹
“Come now,² I will examine³ self-indulgent pleasure⁴ to discern⁵ whether it is worthwhile.”⁶
But I found⁷ that this also was futile.⁸
2:2 I said of merry-making,⁹ “It is folly,”
and of self-indulgent pleasure¹⁰ I said, “It accomplishes nothing!”¹¹
2:3 I mentally¹² explored¹³ the effects of indulging¹⁴ my flesh¹⁵ with wine,
and the effects of behaving¹⁶ foolishly—
the whole time my mind was guiding me with wisdom¹⁷—
so that¹⁸ I might discover what is profitable¹⁹
for people²⁰ to do on earth²¹ during the few days²² of their lives.

Futility of Seeking Pleasure from Materialistic Acquisitions and Secular Accomplishments

2:4 I increased my possessions:²³
I built houses for myself, ²⁴
I planted vineyards for myself.
2:5 I laid out royal gardens and enclosed-parks²⁵ for myself,
and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
2:6 I constructed pools of water for myself,
from which to irrigate a forest/grove of flourishing trees.
2:7 I purchased male and female slaves,
and I owned slaves who were born in my house,²⁶
I also acquired more livestock, both herds and flocks
than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.
2:8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself,
as well as special personal possessions²⁷ of kings and provinces.
I acquired male singers and female singers for myself,
as well as a man’s sensual delights:²⁸ a harem of beautiful concubines.²⁹
2:9 So,³⁰ I accomplished far more³¹ than all my predecessors in Jerusalem,
yet I maintained my objectivity:
2:10 I did not hold myself back from acquiring anything that I saw,³²
I did not deny myself³³ from accomplishing anything that would bring me pleasure.³⁴
Thus, I³⁵ experienced enjoyment in all my labor;
this was my reward for all my hard work.
2:11 Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished³⁶
and on all the energy that I had exerted to accomplish it,³⁷
I concluded: “All these³⁸ human secular achievements and acquisitions are ultimately profitless³⁹—
like pursuing the wind!
There is nothing ultimately gained⁴⁰ from them on earth.”⁴¹

The Advantage of Wisdom is Minimized by the Fact of Universal Mortality

2:12 Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolishness and folly⁴²
For what more can the king’s successor do, except what he⁴³ has already done?
2:13 I realized that wisdom has a relative advantage over folly,
just as light has an advantage over darkness:
2:14 The wise man can see where he is going,⁴⁴ but the fool walks in darkness.
I also realized that the same fate—death—befalls them both.⁴⁵
2:15 So I thought to myself, “The fate of the fool will befall even me!⁴⁶
Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively⁴⁷ wise?”⁴⁸
So I lamented⁴⁹ to myself,⁵⁰
“This relative advantage of wisdom over folly is ultimately meaningless!”
2:16 Because the wise man, like⁵¹ the fool, will not be remembered for very long.⁵²
Because⁵³ in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten.⁵⁴
Alas,⁵⁵ the wise man dies, just like⁵⁶ the fool!
2:17 So I loathed life⁵⁷ because what occurs⁵⁸ on earth⁵⁹ seems awful to me;
For all of the relative advantage of wisdom is futile—like pursuing the wind.

Toil is Ultimately Fruitless Because its Fruits Must Be Left to Someone Else

2:18 So I loathed all the fruit of my toil⁶⁰
for which I had worked so hard⁶¹ on earth.⁶²
For⁶³ I must leave it⁶⁴ behind⁶⁵ in the hands of my successor.
2:19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?
Yet⁶⁶ he will be master over all the fruit of my labor⁶⁷
for which I had worked so wisely⁶⁸ on earth!⁶⁹
This also is futile!
2:20 So I began to despair⁷⁰ about all the fruit of my toil⁷¹
for which I had worked so hard⁷² under the sun.
2:21 Because a man may his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill;
however, he must hand over the fruit of his work⁷³ as an inheritance⁷⁴
to someone else who did not work for it.
This also is futile and an awful injustice!⁷⁵

Ultimately, Secular Human Toil Produces Only Painful Days and Restless Nights

2:22 What does a man acquire from all his physical toil
and mental turmoil with which he toils on earth?⁷⁶
2:23 Simply this: All day long his work produces pain and frustration;⁷⁷
and even at night his mind cannot relax!
This also is fruitless!

The Only Relative Benefit from Secular Human Toil: Enjoy Work and its Fruits as a Gift from God

2:24 There is nothing better for⁷⁸ a man than⁷⁹ to eat and drink with joy,
and for him⁸⁰ to find enjoyment⁸¹ in his work.
I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment is a sovereign gift⁸² of God.
2:25 For no one⁸³ can eat and drink
or experience joy⁸⁴ apart from him.⁸⁵
2:26 To the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy;
but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth⁸⁶
only to give⁸⁷ it to the one who pleases God.
This⁸⁸ task of the wicked is fruitless—like pursuing the wind!