Chuándàoshū 2:1-11

1 Wǒ xīnli shuō , lái ba , wǒ yǐ xǐlè shì shì nǐ , nǐ hǎo xiǎng fú . shuí zhīdào , zhè yĕ shì xū kōng .

2 Wǒ zhǐ xī xiào shuō , zhè shì kuáng wàng . lún xǐlè shuō , yǒu hé gōngxiào ne .

3 Wǒ xīnli chá jiū , rúhé yòng jiǔ shǐ wǒ ròutǐ shūchàng , wǒ xīn què réng yǐ zhìhuì yǐndǎo wǒ . yòu rúhé chí zhù yúmeì , dĕng wǒ kàn míng shìrén , zaì tiān xià yìshēng dāng xíng hé shì wéi mĕi .

4 Wǒ wèi zìjǐ dòng dà gōng chéng , jiànzào fángwū , zāizhòng pútaóyuán ,

5 Xiūzào yuán yòu , zaì qízhōng zāizhòng gèyàng guǒ mù shù ,

6 Wā zào shuǐ chí , yòng yǐ jiāo guàn nèn xiǎo de shùmù .

7 Wǒ mǎi le pú bì , yĕ yǒu shēng zaì jia zhōng de pú bì . yòu yǒu xǔduō niú qún yáng qún , shēng guo yǐqián zaì Yēlùsǎlĕng zhòngrén suǒyǒude .

8 Wǒ yòu wèi zìjǐ jīxù jīn yín , hé jūnwáng de cáibǎo , bìng ge shĕng de cáibǎo . yòu dé chàng gē de nánnǚ , hé shìrén suǒ xǐaì de wù , bìng xǔduō de fēi pín .

9 Zhèyàng , wǒ jiù rì jiàn chāngshèng , shēng guo yǐqián zaì Yēlùsǎlĕng de zhòngrén . wǒde zhìhuì réngrán cún liú .

10 Fán wǒ yǎn suǒ qiú de , wǒ méiyǒu liú xià bù gĕi tāde . wǒ xīn suǒ lè de , wǒ méiyǒu jìnzhǐ bù xiǎngshòu de . yīn wǒde xīn wèi wǒ yīqiè suǒ laólù de kuaìlè . zhè jiù shì wǒ cóng laólù zhōng suǒ dé de fēn .

11 Hòulái wǒ chákàn wǒ shǒu suǒ jīng yíng de yīqiè shì , hé wǒ laólù suǒ chéng de gōng . shuí zhī dōu shì xū kōng , dōu shì bǔ fēng , zaì rì guāng zhī xià haó wúyì chù .

Chuándàoshū 2:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 2

Solomon, having made trial of natural wisdom and knowledge in its utmost extent, and found it to be vanity, proceeds to the experiment of pleasure, and tries whether any happiness was in that, Ec 2:1. As for that which at first sight was vain, frothy, and frolicsome, he dispatches at once, and condemns it as mad and unprofitable, Ec 2:2; but as for those pleasures which were more manly, rational, and lawful, he dwells upon them, and gives a particular enumeration of them, as what he had made full trial of; as good eating and drinking, in a moderate way, without abuse; fine and spacious buildings; delightful vineyards, gardens, and orchards; parks, forests, and enclosures; fish pools, and fountains of water; a large retinue, and equipage of servants; great possessions, immense riches and treasure; a collection of the greatest rarities, and curiosities in nature; all kinds of music, vocal and instrumental, Ec 2:3-8; in all which he exceeded any that went before him; nor did he deny himself of any pleasure, in a lawful way, that could possibly be enjoyed, Ec 2:9,10. And yet on a survey of the whole, and after a thorough experience of what could be found herein, he pronounces all vanity and vexation of spirit, Ec 2:11; and returns again to his former subject, wisdom; and looks that over again, to see if he could find real happiness in it, being sadly disappointed in that of pleasure, Ec 2:12. He indeed commends wisdom, and prefers it to folly, and a wise man to a fool; Ec 2:13,14; and yet observes some things which lessen its value; and shows there is no happiness in it, the same events befalling a wise man and a fool; both alike forgotten, and die in like manner, Ec 2:15,16. And then he takes into consideration business of life, and a laborious industry to obtain wealth; and this he condemns as grievous, hateful, and vexatious, because, after all a man's acquisitions, he knows not to whom he shall leave them, whether to a wise man or a fool, Ec 2:17-21. And because a man himself has no rest all his days, nothing but sorrow and grief, Ec 2:22,23; wherefore he concludes it is best for a man to enjoy the good things of this life himself; which he confirms by his own experience, and by an, antithesis between a good man and a wicked one, Ec 2:24-26.