## Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

###### Ecclesiastes 2:1
[Ecclesiastes 2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:1)

אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּלִבִּ֔י לְכָה־נָּ֛א אֲנַסְּכָ֥ה בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּרְאֵ֣ה בְט֑וֹב וְהִנֵּ֥ה גַם־ה֖וּא הָֽבֶל׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I said to myself, “Come now, I will try [the life of] joy, and enjoy the good life”; and behold, this too was vanity.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I said in my heart, Come now, I will try thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I said to myself: Come, then, I will [forbear from wisdom and constantly] mix [wine] with joy, and see good; and, behold, this, too, is vanity [(for I saw prophetically that indulging in joy leads to many evils)].


###### Ecclesiastes 2:2
[Ecclesiastes 2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:2)

לִשְׂח֖וֹק אָמַ֣רְתִּי מְהוֹלָ֑ל וּלְשִׂמְחָ֖ה מַה־זֹּ֥ה עֹשָֽׂה׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Of laughter, I said, it is senseless; and of joy—what does it accomplish.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What does it achieve?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Of laughter I said: It is commingled [with tears and sighing], and of joy: What [good] does it do?


###### Ecclesiastes 2:3
[Ecclesiastes 2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:3)

תַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י לִמְשׁ֥וֹךְ בַּיַּ֖יִן אֶת־בְּשָׂרִ֑י וְלִבִּ֞י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽחׇכְמָה֙ וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז בְּסִכְל֔וּת עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר־אֶרְאֶ֗ה אֵי־זֶ֨ה ט֜וֹב לִבְנֵ֤י הָאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַעֲשׂוּ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּיהֶֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I searched in my heart [for a way] to pamper my flesh with wine; while my heart conducted itself with wisdom, and to grasp foolishness, until I could see which was best for men to do under the heavens during the brief span of their lives.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I sought in my heart to stimulate my body with wine (yet guiding my heart with wisdom;) and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I [then] sought in my heart [to combine all of them] — to indulge my flesh in [feasts of] wine while my heart conducted (itself) with wisdom, and to hold on to "folly" [(those mitzvoth e.g., sha'atnez and the like] that my reason could not fathom)], until I saw which was good for the sons of man to do under the heavens the number of the days of their lives.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:4
[Ecclesiastes 2:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:4)

הִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי מַעֲשָׂ֑י בָּנִ֤יתִי לִי֙ בָּתִּ֔ים נָטַ֥עְתִּי לִ֖י כְּרָמִֽים׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I made great works; I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I made great works for myself; I built houses; I planted vineyards:

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I increased my works [(in the days of my greatness)]. I built me houses; I planted me vineyards.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:5
[Ecclesiastes 2:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:5)

עָשִׂ֣יתִי לִ֔י גַּנּ֖וֹת וּפַרְדֵּסִ֑ים וְנָטַ֥עְתִּי בָהֶ֖ם עֵ֥ץ כׇּל־פֶּֽרִי׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I made gardens and orchards for myself; and planted in them, every kind of fruit tree.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I made gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted in them trees of every fruit.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:6
[Ecclesiastes 2:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:6)

עָשִׂ֥יתִי לִ֖י בְּרֵכ֣וֹת מָ֑יִם לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת מֵהֶ֔ם יַ֖עַר צוֹמֵ֥חַ עֵצִֽים׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I made pools of water from which to irrigate the forest, growing with trees.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I made pools of water, from which to water a forest of growing trees:

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I made me pools of water, to water from them a forest sprouting trees.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:7
[Ecclesiastes 2:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:7)

קָנִ֙יתִי֙ עֲבָדִ֣ים וּשְׁפָח֔וֹת וּבְנֵי־בַ֖יִת הָ֣יָה לִ֑י גַּ֣ם מִקְנֶה֩ בָקָ֨ר וָצֹ֤אן הַרְבֵּה֙ הָ֣יָה לִ֔י מִכֹּ֛ל שֶֽׁהָי֥וּ לְפָנַ֖י בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I acquired men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also herds of cattle and sheep I possessed in greater quantity than anyone who preceded me in Jerusalem.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Yerushalayim before me:

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I bought man-servants and maid-servants, and children of the household were mine. Also, much kine, cattle, and flocks were mine, more than all that were before me in Jerusalem.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:8
[Ecclesiastes 2:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:8)

כָּנַ֤סְתִּי לִי֙ גַּם־כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וּסְגֻלַּ֥ת מְלָכִ֖ים וְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹת עָשִׂ֨יתִי לִ֜י שָׁרִ֣ים וְשָׁר֗וֹת וְתַעֲנֻג֛וֹת בְּנֵ֥י הָאָדָ֖ם שִׁדָּ֥ה וְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I also amassed silver and gold, and treasures of kings and provinces; I obtained singers and musical instruments, and things that delight the people, chests and chests of them.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I gathered also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces: I acquired men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, women very many.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I gathered unto me also silver and gold, and the treasures of the kings and the provinces. I made me sharim and sharoth [(types of instruments)], and the delights of men, shidah and shidoth [(ornate coaches)].


###### Ecclesiastes 2:9
[Ecclesiastes 2:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:9)

וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּי מִכֹּ֛ל שֶׁהָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖י בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם אַ֥ף חׇכְמָתִ֖י עָ֥מְדָה לִּֽי׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I was great [in wealth], and surpassed all who preceded me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Yerushalayim: also my wisdom remained with me.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I increased and amassed, more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. And my wisdom, too, stood me in good stead.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:10
[Ecclesiastes 2:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:10)

וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ עֵינַ֔י לֹ֥א אָצַ֖לְתִּי מֵהֶ֑ם לֹֽא־מָנַ֨עְתִּי אֶת־לִבִּ֜י מִכׇּל־שִׂמְחָ֗ה כִּֽי־לִבִּ֤י שָׂמֵ֙חַ֙ מִכׇּל־עֲמָלִ֔י וְזֶֽה־הָיָ֥ה חֶלְקִ֖י מִכׇּל־עֲמָלִֽי׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And whatever my eyes desired, I did not deny them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my portion [reward] from all my labor.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And whatever my eyes desired I did not withhold from them; I did not restrain my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And all that my eyes sought, I did not keep back from them. I did not withhold my heart from any joy. For my heart rejoiced in all my toil. And this [(according to one view, his staff; according to another, his cup)] was my portion from all my toil.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:11
[Ecclesiastes 2:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:11)

וּפָנִ֣יתִֽי אֲנִ֗י בְּכׇל־מַעֲשַׂי֙ שֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּ יָדַ֔י וּבֶֽעָמָ֖ל שֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֙בֶל֙ וּרְע֣וּת ר֔וּחַ וְאֵ֥ין יִתְר֖וֹן תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Then I looked upon all my works that my hands had done, and on the labor I had performed; and behold—all was vanity and vexation of spirit and there is no profit under the sun.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Then I looked at all the works that my hands had wrought, and at the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I turned [from all my affairs to consider] all my works that my hands had wrought, and the toil that I had toiled in, and, behold, all was vanity and breaking of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:12
[Ecclesiastes 2:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:12)

וּפָנִ֤יתִֽי אֲנִי֙ לִרְא֣וֹת חׇכְמָ֔ה וְהוֹלֵל֖וֹת וְסִכְל֑וּת כִּ֣י**׀** מֶ֣ה הָאָדָ֗ם שֶׁיָּבוֹא֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־כְּבָ֖ר עָשֽׂוּהוּ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I [then] turned my attention to behold wisdom, and madness and foolishness; for of what value is the man who would come after the king [to repeat] that which has already been done [by him].

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do who comes after the king? even that which has been already done.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I [now] turn [from all my affairs] to consider wisdom, distraction and folly [i.e., the punishment for transgression]. For what is the man who shall come after the King [has already rendered His decree (to entreat Him to alter it)], when it has already been wrought? [(It were better had he considered beforehand, so that he had no need of entreaty)].


###### Ecclesiastes 2:13
[Ecclesiastes 2:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:13)

וְרָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ יִתְר֛וֹן לַֽחׇכְמָ֖ה מִן־הַסִּכְל֑וּת כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן הָא֖וֹר מִן־הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Then I perceived that the advantage of wisdom over foolishness, was like that of light over darkness.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I saw that there was an advantage of wisdom over folly, as the advantage of light over darkness [i.e., wickedness].


###### Ecclesiastes 2:14
[Ecclesiastes 2:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:14)

הֶֽחָכָם֙ עֵינָ֣יו בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהַכְּסִ֖יל בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ הוֹלֵ֑ךְ וְיָדַ֣עְתִּי גַם־אָ֔נִי שֶׁמִּקְרֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד יִקְרֶ֥ה אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The wise man, his eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; but I also understood that the same fate befalls both of them.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happens to them all.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The wise man — his eyes are in its [(a thing's)] beginning [(to see what its end will be)], but the fool walks in darkness. And I, too, [(who praise the wise man)], knew that one fate befalls them all [i.e., that both the wise man and the fool will die)].


###### Ecclesiastes 2:15
[Ecclesiastes 2:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:15)

וְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽי אֲנִ֜י בְּלִבִּ֗י כְּמִקְרֵ֤ה הַכְּסִיל֙ גַּם־אֲנִ֣י יִקְרֵ֔נִי וְלָ֧מָּה חָכַ֛מְתִּי אֲנִ֖י אָ֣ז יֹתֵ֑ר וְדִבַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י שֶׁגַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And I said to myself: “Since the fate of the fool will also be my fate, why do I seek to become wiser?” Then I said to myself: “This too is vanity.”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Then I said in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
But would I say in my heart that as it befalls the fool so will it befall me, so why should I become even wiser? Rather, I said in my heart that this, too, [i.e., this mode of thought] is vanity.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:16
[Ecclesiastes 2:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:16)

כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין זִכְר֧וֹן לֶחָכָ֛ם עִֽם־הַכְּסִ֖יל לְעוֹלָ֑ם בְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞ר הַיָּמִ֤ים הַבָּאִים֙ הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁכָּ֔ח וְאֵ֛יךְ יָמ֥וּת הֶחָכָ֖ם עִֽם־הַכְּסִֽיל׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For there is no remembrance of either the wise man or the fool, forever; since in the days to come all will be forgotten; and how can the death of the wise man be like [the death of] the fool?

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For of the wise man as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance; seeing that which now is, shall, in the days to come, be entirely forgotten. And how does the wise man die? just like the fool.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For there is no [(common)] remembrance of the wise man and the fool forever [i.e., after death, the first being remembered for the good, and the second for evil.] For [I saw, of the evil ones] who had already been [(and had succeeded greatly)], (that) in the days that came [after them] all [of their success] was forgotten. How, then, should the wise man die with [i.e., in the same manner as] the fool? [(Rather, the merits of the wise will not be forgotten and will avail their children after them.)]


###### Ecclesiastes 2:17
[Ecclesiastes 2:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:17)

וְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים כִּ֣י רַ֤ע עָלַי֙ הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ כִּֽי־הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And [so] I hated life, for I was sorely grieved, by all that was done under the sun; for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me: for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I hate the living [(Solomon here prophesies over the wicked generation of Rechavam)]. For evil to me is the deed which is done under the sun; for all is vanity and breaking of spirit.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:18
[Ecclesiastes 2:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:18)

וְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽי אֲנִי֙ אֶת־כׇּל־עֲמָלִ֔י שֶׁאֲנִ֥י עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ שֶׁ֣אַנִּיחֶ֔נּוּ לָאָדָ֖ם שֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרָֽי׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun; for I must leave it to the man who will succeed me.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And I hated all my labour in which I had laboured under the sun: because I must leave it to the man who shall come after me.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I hated all my toil wherein I toil under the sun, and which I leave to the man who comes after me.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:19
[Ecclesiastes 2:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:19)

וּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֗עַ הֶֽחָכָ֤ם יִהְיֶה֙ א֣וֹ סָכָ֔ל וְיִשְׁלַט֙ בְּכׇל־עֲמָלִ֔י שֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּי וְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ גַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my work in which I labored, and have shown myself to be wise under the sun; this, too, is vanity.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour in which I have laboured, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And who knows whether it will be a wise one or a fool who will preside over all my toil wherein I toiled and wherein I became wise under the sun? This, too, is vanity [i.e., one of the vanities created in the world].


###### Ecclesiastes 2:20
[Ecclesiastes 2:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:20)

וְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽי אֲנִ֖י לְיַאֵ֣שׁ אֶת־לִבִּ֑י עַ֚ל כׇּל־הֶ֣עָמָ֔ל שֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּי תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And [so] I turned my heart to despair of all the labor in which I labored under the sun.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I turned to cause my heart to despair over all the toil wherein I had toiled under the sun [(so that I would toil no more)].


###### Ecclesiastes 2:21
[Ecclesiastes 2:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:21)

כִּי־יֵ֣שׁ אָדָ֗ם שֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹ בְּחׇכְמָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן וּלְאָדָ֞ם שֶׁלֹּ֤א עָֽמַל־בּוֹ֙ יִתְּנֶ֣נּוּ חֶלְק֔וֹ גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וְרָעָ֥ה רַבָּֽה׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For there is a man who labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill; and [yet] to a man who has not labored, he shall leave it, as his portion; this, too, is vanity and a great evil.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill; yet he must leave it for a portion to a man who has not laboured in it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For there is a man, whose work is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in understanding; and to a man who did not toil therein shall he give it as his portion. This, too, is vanity and great evil.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:22
[Ecclesiastes 2:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:22)

כִּ֠י מֶֽה־הֹוֶ֤ה לָֽאָדָם֙ בְּכׇל־עֲמָל֔וֹ וּבְרַעְי֖וֹן לִבּ֑וֹ שְׁה֥וּא עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For what has a man of all his labor, and of the ambition of his heart, for which he labors under the sun?

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For what has a man of all his labour, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labours under the sun?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For what does it profit a man in all of his toil and in the breaking of heart [(in toil and worry)] wherein he toils under the sun [(if he leaves the fruits of his toil to others)]?


###### Ecclesiastes 2:23
[Ecclesiastes 2:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:23)

כִּ֧י כׇל־יָמָ֣יו מַכְאֹבִ֗ים וָכַ֙עַס֙ עִנְיָנ֔וֹ גַּם־בַּלַּ֖יְלָה לֹא־שָׁכַ֣ב לִבּ֑וֹ גַּם־זֶ֖ה הֶ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For all his days are painful, and aggravation is his lot, even at night his heart has no rest; this, too, is vanity.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For all his days are pains, and his work is a vexation; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For all of his days are painful, and anger is his lot. At night, too, his heart does not rest. This, too, is vanity [i.e., one of the vanities prevalent in the world.]


###### Ecclesiastes 2:24
[Ecclesiastes 2:24](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:24)

אֵֽין־ט֤וֹב בָּאָדָם֙ שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֔ה וְהֶרְאָ֧ה אֶת־נַפְשׁ֛וֹ ט֖וֹב בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ גַּם־זֹה֙ רָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי כִּ֛י מִיַּ֥ד הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽיא׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Is it not beneficial for man that he eats and drinks, and shows himself content with his labor? —this, too, I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour; but this also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Is it not good in a man that he eat and drink and show his soul [inclined to] good in his toil? [viz. Jeremiah 2:15] This [inclination], too, have I seen to be from the hand of G-d.


###### Ecclesiastes 2:25
[Ecclesiastes 2:25](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:25)

כִּ֣י מִ֥י יֹאכַ֛ל וּמִ֥י יָח֖וּשׁ ח֥וּץ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For who should eat and who should enjoy, if not I?

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For who can eat, or who can enjoy pleasure, more than I?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[And the wicked ones (who will leave their toil to others) say: Why should I not rejoice in the fruits of my toil?] For who should eat and who should hasten [to swallow] aside from me?


###### Ecclesiastes 2:26
[Ecclesiastes 2:26](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/2:26)

כִּ֤י לְאָדָם֙ שֶׁטּ֣וֹב לְפָנָ֔יו נָתַ֛ן חׇכְמָ֥ה וְדַ֖עַת וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ נָתַ֨ן עִנְיָ֜ן לֶאֱסֹ֣ף וְלִכְנ֗וֹס לָתֵת֙ לְטוֹב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For to the man who is good in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge and joy; but to the sinner, He gives the urge to gather and accumulate—that he should [ultimately] hand it [on to him] who is good in the sight of God; this, too, is vanity and vexation of spirit.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Surely he gives to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and heaping up, that he may give it to one who is good before God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For to the man who is good before Him, He has given [(viz. 2:24)] wisdom, and knowledge, and joy [i.e., a heart to occupy himself with Torah and mitzvoth and to rejoice in his lot with food and drink and clean garments]; and to the sinner He has given preoccupation with the amassing and the gathering [of wealth] — to give (it) to him who is good before G-d [viz. Esther 8:2]. This, too, [(one man toiling; the other, taking)] is vanity [(i.e., one of the vanities placed before men)] and breaking of spirit.