H9002–/וְ–v

There is a thing which is to no purpose done on the earth: that there are good men to whom is given the same punishment as those who are evil, and there are evil men who get the reward of the good. I say that this again is to no purpose.

וְיֵ֣שׁ (וְ) ve. “and”

So I gave praise to joy, because there is nothing better for a man to do under the sun than to take meat and drink and be happy; for that will be with him in his work all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת (וְ) ve. “and”וְלִשְׂמ֑וֹחַ (וְ) ve. “and”וְה֞וּא (וְ) ve. “and”

When I gave my mind to the knowledge of wisdom and to seeing the business which is done on the earth (and there are those whose eyes see not sleep by day or by night),

וְלִרְאוֹת֙ (וְ) ve. “and”וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה (וּ) u. “and”

Then I saw all the work of God, and that man may not get knowledge of the work which is done under the sun; because, if a man gives hard work to the search he will not get knowledge, and even if the wise man seems to be coming to the end of his search, s

וְלֹ֣א (וְ) ve. “and”וְגַ֨ם (וְ) ve. “and”

All this I took to heart, and my heart saw it all: that the upright and the wise and their works are in the hand of God; and men may not be certain if it will be love or hate; all is to no purpose before them.

וְלָב֣וּר (וְ) ve. “and”וְהַחֲכָמִ֛ים (וְ) ve. “and”וַעֲבָדֵיהֶ֖ם (וַ) va. “and”

Because to all there is one event, to the upright man and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him who makes an offering and to him who makes no offering; as is the good so is the sinner; he who takes an oath is as he who has fear of it.

וְלָרָשָׁע֙ (וְ) ve. “and”וְלָרַע (וְ) ve. “and”וְלַטָּה֣וֹר (וְ) ve. “and”וְלַטָּמֵ֔א (וְ) ve. “and”וְלַזֹּבֵ֔חַ (וְ) ve. “and”וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר (וְ) ve. “and”

This is evil in all things which are done under the sun: that there is one fate for all, and the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; while they have life their hearts are foolish, and after that--to the dead.

וְגַ֣ם (וְ) ve. “and”וְהוֹלֵל֤וֹת (וְ) ve. “and”וְאַחֲרָ֖יו (וְ) ve. “and”

The living are conscious that death will come to them, but the dead are not conscious of anything, and they no longer have a reward, because there is no memory of them.

וְהַמֵּתִ֞ים (וְ) ve. “and”וְאֵֽין־ (וְ) ve. “and”

Their love and their hate and their envy are now ended; and they have no longer a part for ever in anything which is done under the sun.

וְחֵ֨לֶק (וְ) ve. “and”

Come, take your bread with joy, and your wine with a glad heart. God has taken pleasure in your works.

וּֽשֲׁתֵ֥ה (וּֽ) u. “and”

Let your clothing be white at all times, and let not your head be without oil.

וְשֶׁ֖מֶן (וְ) ve. “and”

Have joy with the woman of your love all the days of your foolish life which he gives you under the sun. Because that is your part in life and in your work which you do under the sun.

וּבַעֲמָ֣לְךָ֔ (וּ) u. “and”

Whatever comes to your hand to do with all your power, do it because there is no work, or thought, or knowledge, or wisdom in the place of the dead to which you are going.

וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ (וְ) ve. “and”וְדַ֣עַת (וְ) ve. “and”וְחָכְמָ֔ה (וְ) ve. “and”

And again I saw under the sun that the reward goes not to him who is quick, or the fruits of war to the strong; and there is no bread for the wise, or wealth for men of learning, or respect for those who have knowledge; but time and chance come to all.

וְרָאֹ֣ה (וְ) ve. “and”וְלֹ֧א (וְ) ve. “and”וְ֠גַם (וְ֠) Ve. “and”וְגַ֨ם (וְ) ve. “and”וְגַ֛ם (וְ) ve. “and”וָפֶ֖גַע (וָ) va. “and”

Even man has no knowledge of his time; like fishes taken in an evil net, or like birds taken by deceit, are the sons of men taken in an evil time when it comes suddenly on them.

וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים (וְ) ve. “and”

This again I have seen under the sun as wisdom and it seemed great to me.

וּגְדוֹלָ֥ה (וּ) u. “and”

There was a little town and the number of its men was small, and there came a great king against it and made an attack on it, building works of war round about it.

וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים (וַ) va. “and”

Now there was in the town a poor, wise man, and he, by his wisdom, kept the town safe. But no one had any memory of that same poor man.

וְאָדָם֙ (וְ) ve. “and”

Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom is not respected, and his words are not given a hearing.

וְחָכְמַ֤ת (וְ) ve. “and”וּדְבָרָ֖יו (וּ) u. “and”

Wisdom is better than instruments of war, but one sinner is the destruction of much good.

וְחוֹטֶ֣א (וְ) ve. “and”

The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.

וְלֵ֥ב (וְ) ve. “and”

And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.

וְגַם־ (וְ) ve. “and”וְאָמַ֥ר (וְ) ve. “and”

The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.

וַעֲשִׁירִ֖ים (וַ) va. “and”

I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.

וְשָׂרִ֛ים (וְ) ve. “and”

He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.

וּפֹרֵ֥ץ (וּ) u. “and”