Ecclesiastes 2
Thomson 1808
Brenton 1851
Greek · Brenton
1
ThomsonI SAID in my heart, Come now let me try thee with pleasure. Take a view of that considered as a good. But behold this also is vanity.
BrentonI said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, and behold thou good: and, behold, this is also vanity.
GreekΕἶπον ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, δεῦρο δὴ πειράσω σε ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, καὶ ἴδε ἐν ἀγαθῷ· καὶ ἰδοὺ καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.
2
ThomsonTo laughter I said, It is madness; and to mirth, What is this thou art doing?
BrentonI said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why doest thou this?
GreekΤῷ γέλωτι εἶπα, περιφορὰν, καὶ τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ, τί τοῦτο ποιεῖς;
3
ThomsonNow I had examined whether my mind could lead my flesh to wine; and my mind had led it with wisdom, retaining a command over pleasure, until I should see of what sort that good is, which the sons of men are to pursue under the sun, all the days of their life.
BrentonAnd I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life.
GreekΚαὶ κατεσκεψάμην εἰ ἡ καρδία μου ἑλκύσει ὡς οἶνον τὴν σάρκα μου, καὶ καρδία μου ὡδήγησεν ἐν σοφίᾳ, καὶ τοῦ κρατῆσαι ἐπʼ εὐφροσύνην, ἕως οὗ ἴδω ποῖον τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὃ ποιήσουσιν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτῶν.
4
ThomsonI enlarged my plan of operations. I built me houses. I planted me vineyards.
BrentonI enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards.
GreekἘμεγάλυνα ποίημἀ μου, ᾠκοδόμησά μοι οἴκους, ἐφύτευσά μοι ἀμπελῶνας,
5
ThomsonI made me gardens and orchards and planted therein all sorts of fruit trees.
BrentonI made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them every kind of fruit-tree.
Greekἐποίησά μοι κήπους καὶ παραδείσους, καὶ ἐφύτευσα ἐν αὐτοῖς ξύλον πᾶν καρποῦ.
6
ThomsonI made me pools of water, to water from them my blooming nurseries.
BrentonI made me pools of water, to water from them the timber-bearing wood.
GreekἘποίησά μοι κολυμβήθρας ὑδάτων τοῦ ποτίσαι ἀπʼ αὐτῶν δρυμὸν βλαστῶντα ξύλα.
7
ThomsonI purchased men servants and maid servants; and had servants born in my family. And my stock of herds and flocks was great above all who were before me in Jerusalem.
BrentonI got servants and maidens, and servants were born to me in the house: also I had abundant possession of flocks and herds, beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem.
GreekἘκτησάμην δούλους καὶ παιδίσκας, καὶ οἰκογενεῖς ἐγένοντό μοι, καί γε κτῆσις βουκολίου καὶ ποιμνίου πολλὴ ἐγένετό μοι ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
8
ThomsonI collected also for myself silver and gold and the choicest treasures of kings and countries. I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men; a butler and the requisites to entertainments.
BrentonMoreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers.
GreekΣυνήγαγόν μοι καί γε ἀργύριον καί γε χρυσίον, καὶ περιουσιασμοὺς βασιλέων καὶ τῶν χωρῶν· ἐποίησά μοι ᾄδοντας καὶ ᾀδούσας, καὶ ἐντρυφήματα υἱῶν ἀνθρώπων, οἰνοχόον καὶ οἰνοχόας.
9
ThomsonAnd I was great and surpassed all who had been before me in Jerusalem; and still my wisdom continued with me.
BrentonSo I became great, and advanced beyond all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom was established to me.
GreekΚαὶ ἐμεγαλύνθην καὶ προσέθηκα παρὰ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἀπὸ ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ, καί γε σοφία μου ἐστάθη μοι.
10
ThomsonAnd whatever mine eyes desired I withheld not from them, nor did I restrain my heart from all my pleasure. Because my heart had been gladdened with all my labour, (now this was my portion from all my labour)
BrentonAnd whatever mine eyes desired, I withheld not from them, I withheld not my heart from all my mirth: for my heart rejoiced in all my labour; and this was my portion of all my labour.
GreekΚαὶ πᾶν ὃ ᾔτησαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου, οὐκ ἀφεῖλον ἀπʼ αὐτῶν· οὐκ ἀπεκώλυσα τὴν καρδίαν μου ἀπὸ πάσης εὐφροσύνης μου, ὅτι καρδία μου εὐφράνθη ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου· καὶ τοῦτο ἐγένετο μερίς μου ἀπὸ παντὸς μόχθου μου.
11
Thomsontherefore I looked back on all the works which my hands had done, and on the labour with which I had toiled to execute them; and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit and there is no lasting advantage under the sun.
BrentonAnd I looked on all my works which my hands had wrought, and on my labour which I laboured to perform: and, behold, all was vanity and waywardness of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέβλεψα ἐγὼ ἐν πᾶσι ποιήμασί μου οἷς ἐποίησαν αἱ χεῖρές μου, καὶ ἐν μόχθῳ ᾧ ἐμόχθησα τοῦ ποιεῖν, καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περίσσεια ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
12
ThomsonThen I looked back to take a view of wisdom and madness and folly. In all the particulars which formed this deliberation (for who is the man equal to a complete investigation)
BrentonThen I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the man who will follow after counsel, in all things wherein he employs it?
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέβλεψα ἐγὼ τοῦ ἰδεῖν σοφίαν καὶ παραφορὰν καὶ ἀφροσύνην, ὅτι τίς ἄνθρωπος ὅς ἐπελεύσεται ὀπίσω τῆς βουλῆς; τὰ ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτήν.
13
ThomsonI saw indeed that there is an advantage in wisdom above folly, like the advantage of light above darkness.
BrentonAnd I saw that wisdom excels folly, as much as light excels darkness.
GreekΚαὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ ὅτι ἐστὶ περίσσεια τῇ σοφίᾳ ὑπὲρ τὴν ἀφροσύνην, ὡς περίσσεια τοῦ φωτὸς ὑπὲρ τὸ σκότος.
14
ThomsonThe wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness. Nevertheless I knew that one event [death] will happen to them all.
BrentonThe wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I perceived, even I, that one event shall happen to them all.
GreekΤοῦ σοφοῦ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν κεφαλῇ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ἄφρων ἐν σκότει πορεύεται· καὶ ἔγνων καί γε ἐγὼ, ὅτι συνάντημα ἓν συναντήσεται τοῖς πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς.
15
ThomsonTherefore I said in my heart, As the same event will happen to me as happeneth to the fool Why have I studied wisdom? Why communed abundantly with my heart?
BrentonAnd I said in my heart, As the event of the fool is, so shall it be to me, even to me; and to what purpose have I gained wisdom? I said moreover in my heart, This is also vanity, because the fool speaks of his abundance.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, ὡς συνάντημα τοῦ ἄφρονος καί γε ἐμοὶ συναντήσεταί μοι, καὶ ἱνατί ἐσοφισάμην ἐγώ; περισσὸν ἐλάλησα ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης, διότι ὁ ἄφρων ἐκ περισσεύματος λαλεῖ·
16
ThomsonBecause even this is vanity— (since out of an abundance the fool speaketh)—because there is no remembrance forever of the wise man more than of the fool (seeing the days are now coming when all shall be forgotten and the wise must die as well as the fool);
BrentonFor there is no remembrance of the wise man with the fool for ever; forasmuch as now in the coming days all things are forgotten: and how shall the wise man die with the fool?
GreekὍτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ μνήμη τοῦ σοφοῦ μετὰ τοῦ ἄφρονος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καθότι ἤδη αἱ ἡμέραι ἐρχόμεναι τὰ πάντα ἐπελήσθη· καὶ πῶς ἀποθανεῖται ὁ σοφὸς μετὰ τοῦ ἄφρονος;
17
Thomsontherefore I hated the whole of this life, because the work which was done under the sun was toilsome to me—because all are vanity and vexation of spirit:
BrentonSo I hated life; because the work that was wrought under the sun was evil before me: for all is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
GreekΚαὶ ἐμίσησα σὺν τὴν ζωήν· ὅτι πονηρὸν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ τὸ ποίημα τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
18
Thomsonand I hated all this labour of mine for which I am toiling under the sun; because I must leave it to a man who is coming after me;
BrentonAnd I hated the whole of my labour which I took under the sun; because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
GreekΚαὶ ἐμίσησα ἐγὼ σύμπαντα μόχθον μου ὃν ἐγὼ κοπιῶ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι ἀφίω αὐτὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ γινομένῳ μετʼ ἐμέ.
19
Thomsonand who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? Now if he hath power over all my labour for which I have toiled and in which I have displayed wisdom under the sun; surely this is vanity.
BrentonAnd who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? and whether he will have power over all my labour in which I laboured, and wherein I grew wise under the sun? this is also vanity.
GreekΚαὶ τίς εἶδεν εἰ σοφὸς ἔσται ἢ ἄφρων; καὶ εἰ ἐξουσιάζεται ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου, ᾧ ἐμόχθησα καὶ ᾧ ἐσοφισάμην ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον; καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.
20
ThomsonThen I turned about that my heart might state distinctly in every labour of mine in which I had toiled under the sun—
BrentonSo I went about to dismiss from my heart all my labour wherein I had laboured under the sun.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ τοῦ ἀποτάξασθαι τὴν καρδίαν μου ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου ᾧ ἐμόχθησα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον·
21
Thomsonthat here is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom and with knowledge, and with ability; and there is a man to whom, though he did not labour for him, he shall give his portion. Surely this is vanity and a great vexation.
BrentonFor there is such a man that his labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in fortitude; yet this man shall give his portion to one who has not laboured therein. This is also vanity and great evil.
GreekὍτι ἐστὶν ἄνθρωπος ὅτι μόχθος αὐτοῦ ἐν σοφίᾳ καὶ ἐν γνώσει καὶ ἐν ἀνδρίᾳ· καὶ ἄνθρωπος ᾧ οὐκ ἐμόχθησεν ἐν αὐτῷ, δώσει αὐτῷ μερίδα αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ πονηρία μεγάλη.
22
ThomsonThat such is the case with another man by all his labours and the vexation of his heart with which he toileth under the sun,
BrentonFor it happens to a man in all his labour, and in the purpose of his heart wherein he labours under the sun.
Greekὅτι γίνεται ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν προαιρέσει καρδίας αὐτοῦ ᾧ αὐτὸς μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
23
Thomsonthat all his days are days of sorrow and his employment grief, and even at night his heart hath no rest. Surely this is vanity.
BrentonFor all his days are days of sorrows, and vexation of spirit is his; in the night also his heart rests not. This is also vanity.
GreekὍτι πᾶσαι αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτοῦ ἀλγημάτων καὶ θυμοῦ περισπασμὸς αὐτοῦ, καί γε ἐν νυκτὶ οὐ κοιμᾶται ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης ἐστίν.
24
Thomson[But, thou sayest,] Hath not a man something good which he can eat and drink, and which he can point out to his soul as a good by his labour?
With respect to that, I saw indeed that even this is from the hand of God;
With respect to that, I saw indeed that even this is from the hand of God;
BrentonA man has nothing really good to eat, and to drink, and to shew his soul as good in his trouble. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
GreekΟὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν ἀνθρώπῳ, ὃ φάγεται καὶ ὃ πίεται καὶ ὃ δείξει τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὸν ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο εἶδον ἐγὼ ὅτι ἀπὸ χειρὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν·
25
Thomsonfor who can eat or who can drink without Him?
BrentonFor who shall eat, or who shall drink, without him?
GreekὍτι τίς φάγεται καὶ τίς πίεται πάρεξ αὐτοῦ;
26
ThomsonFor to the man who is good in His sight He hath given wisdom and knowledge and joy; and to the sinner He hath given the trouble of gathering and heaping up to give to him who is good in the sight of God. So that this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
BrentonFor God has given to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but he has given to the sinner trouble, to add and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God; for this is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
GreekὍτι τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ ἀγαθῷ πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἔδωκε σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν καὶ εὐφροσύνην, καὶ τῷ ἁμαρτάνοντι ἔδωκε περισπασμὸν τοῦ προσθεῖναι καὶ τοῦ συναγαγεῖν, τοῦ δοῦναι τῷ ἀγαθῷ πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.