Ecclesiastes 4:6

[But no less truly,]Better is a handful of gratificationThan two fistfuls of labor that is pursuit of wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:9

Thus, I gained more wealth than anyone before me in Jerusalem. In addition, my wisdom remained with me:

Ecclesiastes 4:1

I further observedafurther observed Cf. 3.16. all the oppression that goes on under the sun: the tears of the oppressed, with none to comfort them; and their oppressors’ power, with none to comfort them.

Ecclesiastes 12:8

Utter futility—said Koheleth—All is futile!

Ecclesiastes 5:18

Also, whenever people are given riches and property by God, and they are also permitted to enjoy them and to take their portion and get pleasure for their gains—that is a gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:13

in that those riches are lost in some unlucky venture; and if they produce children, they have nothing in hand.

Ecclesiastes 2:13

I found thatWisdom is superior to follyAs light is superior to darkness;

Ecclesiastes 11:1

Send your bread forth upon the waters; for after many days you will find it.

Ecclesiastes 2:5

I laid out gardens and groves, in which I planted every kind of fruit tree.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

dThis section consists of a series of observations, each of which is introduced by some slight association with what precedes. The theme of 4.4–8 is resumed with 5.9. Two are better off than one, in that they have greater benefit fromebenefit from Emendation yields “hope for”; cf. 2.20. their earnings.

Ecclesiastes 3:6

A time for seeking and a time for losing,A time for keeping and a time for discarding;

Ecclesiastes 7:12

For to be in the shelter of wisdom is to be also in the shelter of money,hFor to be in the shelter of wisdom is to be also in the shelter of money Emendation yields “For the possessor of wisdom becomes a possessor of money.” and the advantage of intelligence is that wisdom preserves the life of the one who possesses it.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

[God] brings everything to pass precisely at its time; [God] also puts eternity in their mind,cputs eternity in their mind I.e., God preoccupies humankind with the attempt to discover the times of future events; cf. 8.17. but without people ever guessing, from first to last, all the things that God brings to pass.

Ecclesiastes 9:18

Wisdom is more valuable than weapons of war,rweapons of war Emendation yields “everything precious.” but a single error destroys much of value.

Ecclesiastes 9:13

This thing too I observed under the sun about wisdom, and it affected me profoundly.

Ecclesiastes 6:5

though it has never seen or experienced the sun, it is better off than he—

Ecclesiastes 11:10

and banish care from your mind, and pluck sorrow out of your flesh! For youth and black hair are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 3:14

I realized, too, that whatever God has brought to pass will recur evermore:Nothing can be added to itAnd nothing taken from it—and God has brought to pass that mortals feel reverence.

Ecclesiastes 5:6

dMeaning of verse uncertain. Emendation yields “Much brooding results in dreams; and much talk in futilities”; cf. v. 2. For much dreaming leads to futility and to superfluous talk.

Ecclesiastes 7:15

In my own brief span of life, I have seen both these things: sometimes someone good perishes despite their goodness, and sometimes someone wicked endures despite their wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

As one’s substance increases, so do those who consume it; what, then, does the success of its owner amount to but feasting the eyes?

Ecclesiastes 10:3

The mind of a fool is wanting also when traveling—which lets everybody know who is a fool.

Ecclesiastes 6:3

Even if a man should beget a hundred children and live many years—no matter how many the days of his years may come to, if his gullet is not sated through his wealth, I say: The stillbirth, though it was not even accorded a burial,anot even accorded a burial Stillbirths were cast into pits or hidden in the ground in no recognizable graves; cf. v. 4 end. is more fortunate than he.

Ecclesiastes 11:2

Distribute portions to seven or even to eight, for you cannot know what misfortune may occur on earth.

Ecclesiastes 7:3

Vexation is better than revelry;cFor empty revelry precludes real happiness; cf. 2.2. for though the face be sad, the heart may be glad.

Ecclesiastes 4:14

For the former can emerge from a dungeon to become king; while the latter, even if born to kingship, can become a pauper.fbecome a pauper Taking rash as a verb; cf. Ps. 34.11.

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Keep your mouth from being rash, and let not your throatathroat Heb. leb, lit. “heart,” sometimes designates the organ of speech; cf. Isa. 33.18; 59.13; Ps. 19.15; 49.4; Job 8.10. be quick to bring forth speech before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; that is why your words should be few.

Ecclesiastes 7:27

See, this is what I found, said Koheleth, item by item in my search for the reason of things.

Ecclesiastes 5:16

Besides, all their days they eat in darkness,ithey eat in darkness Septuagint reads “are [spent] in darkness and mourning.” with much vexation and grief and anger.

Ecclesiastes 2:1

I said to myself, “Come, I will treat you to merriment. Taste mirth!” That too, I found, was futile.

Ecclesiastes 8:3

Leave his presence; do not tarryeLeave his presence; do not tarry Or “Give ground before him; do not resist.” in a dangerous situation, for he can do anything he pleases;

Ecclesiastes 8:10

And then I saw scoundrels coming from the Holy Site and being brought to burial,kcoming from the Holy Site and being brought to burial Meaning uncertain; emendation yields “approaching [to minister]. They would come and profane the Holy Site.” while such as had acted righteously were forgotten in the city.And here is another frustration:

Ecclesiastes 12:3

When the guards of the housebguards of the house I.e., the arms. become shaky,And the soldierscsoldiers I.e., the legs. are bent,And the maids that grind,dmaids that grind I.e., the teeth. grown few, are idle,And the ladies that peer through the windowseladies that peer through the windows I.e., the eyes. grow dim,

Ecclesiastes 3:5

A time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones,A time for embracing and a time for shunning embraces;

Ecclesiastes 5:15

So what is the good of their toiling for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 5:14

Another grave evil is this: The richgThe rich Heb. “He.” must depart just as they came.hAnother grave evil is this: The rich must depart just as they came Moved up from v. 15 for clarity. As they came out of their mother’s womb, so must they depart at last, naked as they came. They can take nothing of their wealth to carry with them.

Ecclesiastes 9:16

So I observed: Wisdom is better than valor; butThe wisdom of the poor is scorned,And their words are not heeded.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

dMeaning of first half of verse uncertain. Is the feasting of the eyes more important than the pursuit of desire? That, too, is futility and pursuit of wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:2

that God sometimes grants a man riches, property, and wealth, so that he does not want for anything his appetite may crave, but God does not permit him to enjoy it; instead, a stranger will enjoy it. That is futility and a grievous ill.

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I have observed the business that God gave humankind to be concerned with:

Ecclesiastes 7:4

The wise are drawn to a house of mourning, and the foolish to a house of merrymaking.

Ecclesiastes 8:7

Indeed, what is to happen is unknown; even when it is on the point of happening, who can tell?

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever it is in your power to do, do with all your might. For there is no action, no reasoning, no learning, no wisdom in Sheol, where you are going.

Ecclesiastes 4:11

Further, when two lie together they are warm; but how can someone who is alone get warm?

Ecclesiastes 7:10

Don’t say, “How has it happened that former times were better than these?” For it is not wise of you to ask that question.

Ecclesiastes 5:17

Only this, I have found, is a real good: to eat and drink and get pleasure with all the gains you make under the sun, during the numbered days of life that God has given you; for that is your portion.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I have further observed under the sun thatThe race is not won by the swift,Nor the battle by the valiant;Nor is bread won by the wise,Nor wealth by the intelligent,Nor favor by the learned.For the time of mischancejtime of mischance Euphemism for death. comes to all.kI.e., the insignificant duration of life renders all successes illusory; cf. 4.15–16.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

eMeaning of parts of verse uncertain. What is occurring occurred long since,And what is to occur occurred long since:and God seeks the pursued.

Ecclesiastes 4:2

Then I accounted those who died long since more fortunate than those who are still living;

Ecclesiastes 12:10

Koheleth sought to discover useful sayings and recordednrecorded Heb. we-khathub is equivalent to we-khathob, an infinitive employed as in Esth. 9.16 and elsewhere. genuinely truthful sayings.