Everything Is Futile

1 The words of the Teacher,^[a](A) son of David, king in Jerusalem.^(B)

The Limitations of Wisdom

¹² I, the Teacher,^(J) have been^[d] king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ I applied my mind to examine^(K) and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven.^(L) God has given people^[e] this miserable task to keep them occupied.^{(M) 14} I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.^[f](N)

¹⁶ I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me,^(P) and my mind has thoroughly grasped^[g] wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷ I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge,^(Q) madness and folly;^(R) I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.^(S)

The Emptiness of Pleasure

2 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure;^(U) enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. ² I said about laughter,^(V) “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” ³ I explored with my mind the pull of wine^(W) on my body—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to grasp folly,^(X) until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven^[h] during the few days of their lives.^(Y)

The Emptiness of Possessions

⁴ I increased my achievements. I built houses^(Z) and planted vineyards^(AA) for myself. ⁵ I made gardens^(AB) and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. ⁶ I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.^{(AC) 7} I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house.^(AD) I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.^{(AE) 8} I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.^(AF) I gathered male and female singers for myself,^(AG) and many concubines, the delights of men.^{[i][j] 9} So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem;^(AH) my wisdom also remained with me. ¹⁰ All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them.^(AI) I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.^{(AJ) 11} When I considered all that I had accomplished^[k] and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind.^[l](AK) There was nothing to be gained under the sun.^(AL)

The Relative Value of Wisdom

¹² Then I turned to consider wisdom,^(AM) madness, and folly, for what will the king’s successor^[m] be like? He^[n] will do what has already been done.^{(AN) 13} And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.^(AO)

Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both.^{(AQ) 15} So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” ^(AR) And I said to myself that this is also futile. ¹⁶ For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise,^(AS) since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise person dies just like the fool? ¹⁷ Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

The Emptiness of Work

¹⁸ I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun^(AT) because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.^{(AU) 19} And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?^(AV) Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. ²⁰ So I began to give myself over^[o] to despair concerning all my work that I had labored at under the sun. ²¹ When there is a person whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill,^(AW) and he must give his portion to a person who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong. ²² For what does a person get with all his work and all his efforts^(AX) that he labors at under the sun? ²³ For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful;^(AY) even at night, his mind does not rest.^(AZ) This too is futile.

²⁴ There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy^[p][q] his work.^(BA) I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,^{(BB) 25} because who can eat and who can enjoy life^[r] apart from him?^{[s] 26} For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy;^(BC) but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight.^(BD) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.^(BE)

The Mystery of Time

⁹ What does the worker gain from his struggles?^{(BN) 10} I have seen the task that God has given the children of Adam to keep them occupied.^{(BO) 11} He has made everything appropriate^[u] in its time.^(BP) He has also put eternity in their hearts,^[v] but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.^{(BQ) 12} I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the^[w] good life. ¹³ It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.^{(BR) 14} I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it.^(BS) God works so that people will be in awe of him.^{(BT) 15} Whatever is, has already been,^(BU) and whatever will be, already is. However, God seeks justice for the persecuted.^[x]

The Mystery of Injustice and Death

¹⁶ I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness.^{(BV) 17} I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked,^(BW) since there is a time for every activity and every work.”^{(BX) 18} I said to myself, “This happens so that God may test the children of Adam and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.”^{(BY) 19} For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same.^(BZ) As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. ²⁰ All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.^{(CA) 21} Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth? ²² I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities^(CB) because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?^[y](CC)

Paul’s Sufferings for Christ

¹⁶ I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little. ¹⁷ What I am saying in this matter^[a] of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly. ¹⁸ Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast. ¹⁹ For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!^{(A) 20} In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits^(B) you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps^(C) you in the face. ²¹ I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that!

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare: ²² Are they Hebrews?^(D) So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham?^(E) So am I. ²³ Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.

²⁴ Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.^{(F) 25} Three times I was beaten with rods.^(G) Once I received a stoning.^(H) Three times I was shipwrecked.^(I) I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. ²⁶ On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers,^(J) dangers from my own people,^(K) dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; ²⁷ toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.^{(L) 28} Not to mention^[b] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble,^(M) and I do not burn with indignation?

³⁰ If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. ³¹ The God and Father^(N) of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. ³² In Damascus,^(O) a ruler^[c] under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me. ³³ So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.^(P)