17 {
"verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.17",
"source": "וְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים כִּ֣י רַ֤ע עָלַי֙ הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ כִּֽי־הַכֹּ֥ל הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃",
"text": "And *śānēʾtî* *ʾet*-the-*ḥayyîm* because *raʿ* upon me the-*maʿăśeh* *shennaʿăśâ* under the-*shāmesh* because-the-all *habel* and *rĕʿût* *rûaḥ*.",
"grammar": {
"*śānēʾtî*": "perfect, 1st singular - I hated",
"*ḥayyîm*": "masculine plural noun with definite article - the life",
"*raʿ*": "adjective, masculine singular - evil/grievous",
"*maʿăśeh*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the work/deed",
"*shennaʿăśâ*": "relative particle + Niphal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - that was done",
"*shāmesh*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the sun",
"*habel*": "masculine singular noun - vapor/vanity",
"*rĕʿût*": "feminine singular construct - striving of",
"*rûaḥ*": "feminine singular noun - wind/spirit"
},
"variants": {
"*śānēʾtî*": "I hated/loathed/detested",
"*ʾet-haḥayyîm*": "life/living",
"*raʿ ʿālay*": "grievous/distressing to me",
"*hammaʿăśeh shennaʿăśâ*": "the work that is done/the deed that is performed",
"*taḥat hashāmesh*": "under the sun/in this world",
"*hebel*": "vapor/breath/emptiness/vanity/futility/meaninglessness",
"*rĕʿût rûaḥ*": "striving after wind/chasing wind/vexation of spirit"
}
}
18 {
"verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.18",
"source": "וְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽי אֲנִי֙ אֶת־כָּל־עֲמָלִ֔י שֶׁאֲנִ֥י עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ שֶׁ֣אַנִּיחֶ֔נּוּ לָאָדָ֖ם שֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרָֽי׃",
"text": "And *śānēʾtî* I *ʾet*-all-*ʿămālî* *sheʾănî* *ʿāmēl* under the-*shāmesh* *sheʾannîḥennû* to the-*ʾādām* *sheyyihyeh* after me.",
"grammar": {
"*śānēʾtî*": "perfect, 1st singular - I hated",
"*ʿămālî*": "masculine singular noun + 1st person suffix - my labor",
"*sheʾănî*": "relative particle + personal pronoun, 1st singular - that I",
"*ʿāmēl*": "Qal participle, masculine singular - laboring",
"*shāmesh*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the sun",
"*sheʾannîḥennû*": "relative particle + Hiphil imperfect, 1st singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - that I must leave it",
"*ʾādām*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the man",
"*sheyyihyeh*": "relative particle + imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - who will be"
},
"variants": {
"*śānēʾtî*": "I hated/loathed/detested",
"*ʿămālî*": "my labor/toil/work/effort",
"*ʿāmēl*": "laboring/working/toiling",
"*taḥat hashāmesh*": "under the sun/in this world",
"*sheʾannîḥennû*": "that I must leave it/would have to leave it",
"*lāʾādām sheyyihyeh ʾaḥărāy*": "to the person who will come after me/to my successor"
}
}
19 {
"verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.19",
"source": "וּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֗עַ הֶֽחָכָ֤ם יִהְיֶה֙ א֣וֹ סָכָ֔ל וְיִשְׁלַט֙ בְּכָל־עֲמָלִ֔י שֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּי וְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ גַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃",
"text": "And who *yôdēaʿ* the-*ḥākām* *yihyeh* or *sākāl* and *yishlaṭ* in all-*ʿămālî* *sheʿāmaltî* and *sheḥākamtî* under the-*shāmesh* also-this *hābel*.",
"grammar": {
"*yôdēaʿ*": "Qal participle, masculine singular - knowing",
"*ḥākām*": "masculine singular adjective with definite article - wise person",
"*yihyeh*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he will be",
"*sākāl*": "adjective, masculine singular - foolish",
"*yishlaṭ*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he will rule/control",
"*ʿămālî*": "masculine singular noun + 1st person suffix - my labor",
"*sheʿāmaltî*": "relative particle + perfect, 1st singular - that I labored",
"*sheḥākamtî*": "relative particle + perfect, 1st singular - that I became wise",
"*shāmesh*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the sun",
"*hābel*": "masculine singular noun - vapor/vanity"
},
"variants": {
"*mî yôdēaʿ*": "who knows",
"*heḥākām yihyeh ʾô sākāl*": "will he be wise or foolish",
"*yishlaṭ*": "will rule/have control/have mastery",
"*ʿămālî sheʿāmaltî*": "my labor which I labored at",
"*sheḥākamtî*": "in which I showed wisdom/that I applied wisdom to",
"*taḥat hashāmesh*": "under the sun/in this world",
"*hābel*": "vapor/breath/emptiness/vanity/futility/meaninglessness"
}
}
20 {
"verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.20",
"source": "וְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽי אֲנִ֖י לְיַאֵ֣שׁ אֶת־לִבִּ֑י עַ֚ל כָּל־הֶ֣עָמָ֔ל שֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּי תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃",
"text": "And *sabbôtî* I to *lĕyaʾēsh* *ʾet*-*libbî* over all-the-*ʿāmāl* *sheʿāmaltî* under the-*shāmesh*.",
"grammar": {
"*sabbôtî*": "perfect, 1st singular - I turned",
"*lĕyaʾēsh*": "preposition + Piel infinitive construct - to cause to despair",
"*libbî*": "masculine singular noun + 1st person suffix - my heart",
"*ʿāmāl*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the labor",
"*sheʿāmaltî*": "relative particle + perfect, 1st singular - that I labored",
"*shāmesh*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the sun"
},
"variants": {
"*sabbôtî*": "I turned/I turned around/I turned myself",
"*lĕyaʾēsh ʾet-libbî*": "to despair/to give up in despair/to make my heart despair",
"*ʿal kol-heʿāmāl*": "over all the labor/concerning all the toil",
"*sheʿāmaltî*": "that I had labored/worked/toiled",
"*taḥat hashāmesh*": "under the sun/in this world"
}
}
21 {
"verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.21",
"source": "כִּי־יֵ֣שׁ אָדָ֗ם שֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹ בְּחָכְמָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן וּלְאָדָ֞ם שֶׁלֹּ֤א עָֽמַל־בּוֹ֙ יִתְּנֶ֣נּוּ חֶלְק֔וֹ גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וְרָעָ֥ה רַבָּֽה׃",
"text": "Because-there is *ʾādām* *sheʿămālô* in *ḥokmāh* and in *daʿat* and in *kishrôn* and to *ʾādām* *shellōʾ* *ʿāmal*-in it *yittĕnennû* *ḥelqô* also-this *hebel* and *rāʿāh* *rabbâ*.",
"grammar": {
"*ʾādām*": "masculine singular noun - man/person",
"*sheʿămālô*": "relative particle + masculine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - whose labor",
"*ḥokmāh*": "feminine singular noun with prefixed preposition - with wisdom",
"*daʿat*": "feminine singular noun with prefixed preposition - with knowledge",
"*kishrôn*": "masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition - with skill",
"*ʾādām*": "masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition - to a person",
"*shellōʾ*": "relative particle + negative particle - who did not",
"*ʿāmal*": "perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he labored",
"*yittĕnennû*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - he will give it",
"*ḥelqô*": "masculine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his portion",
"*hebel*": "masculine singular noun - vapor/vanity",
"*rāʿāh*": "feminine singular adjective - evil",
"*rabbâ*": "feminine singular adjective - great"
},
"variants": {
"*ʾādām sheʿămālô*": "a person whose labor/a man who works",
"*ḥokmāh ûbĕdaʿat ûbĕkishrôn*": "with wisdom and knowledge and skill",
"*ʾādām shellōʾ ʿāmal-bô*": "to a person who has not labored at it",
"*yittĕnennû ḥelqô*": "he must give it as his share/portion",
"*hebel*": "vapor/breath/emptiness/vanity/futility/meaninglessness",
"*rāʿāh rabbâ*": "great evil/great misfortune/great misery"
}
}
22 {
"verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.22",
"source": "כִּ֠י מֶֽה־הֹוֶ֤ה לָֽאָדָם֙ בְּכָל־עֲמָל֔וֹ וּבְרַעְי֖וֹן לִבּ֑ו שְׁה֥וּא עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃",
"text": "Because what-*hōweh* to the-*ʾādām* in all-*ʿămālô* and in *raʿyôn* *libbô* *shĕhûʾ* *ʿāmēl* under the-*shāmesh*.",
"grammar": {
"*hōweh*": "Qal participle, masculine singular - becoming/happening",
"*ʾādām*": "masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition and definite article - to the man",
"*ʿămālô*": "masculine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his labor",
"*raʿyôn*": "masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition - in striving/longing",
"*libbô*": "masculine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his heart",
"*shĕhûʾ*": "relative particle + 3rd masculine singular personal pronoun - which he",
"*ʿāmēl*": "Qal participle, masculine singular - laboring",
"*shāmesh*": "masculine singular noun with definite article - the sun"
},
"variants": {
"*meh-hōweh*": "what profit/what advantage/what benefit",
"*lāʾādām*": "to the man/for the person",
"*ʿămālô*": "his labor/his toil/his work",
"*raʿyôn libbô*": "striving/longing/vexation of his heart/anxiety of his mind",
"*shĕhûʾ ʿāmēl*": "at which he labors/which he toils at",
"*taḥat hashāmesh*": "under the sun/in this world"
}
}
23 {
"verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.23",
"source": "כִּ֧י כָל־יָמָ֣יו מַכְאֹבִ֗ים וָכַ֙עַס֙ עִנְיָנ֔וֹ גַּם־בַּלַּ֖יְלָה לֹא־שָׁכַ֣ב לִבּ֑וֹ גַּם־זֶ֖ה הֶ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃",
"text": "Because all-*yāmāyw* *makʾōbîm* and *kaʿas* *ʿinyānô* also-in the-*laylāh* not-*shākab* *libbô* also-this *hebel* it.",
"grammar": {
"*yāmāyw*": "masculine plural noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his days",
"*makʾōbîm*": "masculine plural noun - pains/sorrows",
"*kaʿas*": "masculine singular noun - vexation/grief",
"*ʿinyānô*": "masculine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his task/occupation",
"*laylāh*": "masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition and definite article - in the night",
"*shākab*": "perfect, 3rd masculine singular - rested/lay down",
"*libbô*": "masculine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his heart",
"*hebel*": "masculine singular noun - vapor/vanity"
},
"variants": {
"*kol-yāmāyw*": "all his days/entire lifetime",
"*makʾōbîm*": "pains/sorrows/suffering",
"*kaʿas*": "vexation/grief/anger/irritation",
"*ʿinyānô*": "his task/his occupation/his business",
"*ballaylāh lōʾ-shākab libbô*": "even at night his mind does not rest/his heart takes no rest",
"*hebel*": "vapor/breath/emptiness/vanity/futility/meaninglessness"
}
}
24 {
"verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.24",
"source": "אֵֽין־ט֤וֹב בָּאָדָם֙ שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣ל וְשָׁתָ֔ה וְהֶרְאָ֧ה אֶת־נַפְשׁ֛וֹ ט֖וֹב בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ גַּם־זֹה֙ רָאִ֣יתִי אָ֔נִי כִּ֛י מִיַּ֥ד הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽיא׃",
"text": "Not-*ṭôb* in the-*ʾādām* *sheyyōʾkal* and *shātâ* and *herʾāh* *ʾet*-*napshô* *ṭôb* in *ʿămālô* also-this *rāʾîtî* I because from *yad* the-*ʾĕlōhîm* it.",
"grammar": {
"*ṭôb*": "masculine singular adjective - good",
"*ʾādām*": "masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition and definite article - in the man",
"*sheyyōʾkal*": "relative particle + imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - that he should eat",
"*shātâ*": "perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he drank",
"*herʾāh*": "Hiphil perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he showed/made see",
"*napshô*": "feminine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his soul",
"*ṭôb*": "masculine singular adjective - good",
"*ʿămālô*": "masculine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix with prefixed preposition - in his labor",
"*rāʾîtî*": "perfect, 1st singular - I saw",
"*yad*": "feminine singular construct - hand of",
"*ʾĕlōhîm*": "masculine plural noun with definite article - God"
},
"variants": {
"*ʾêyn-ṭôb bāʾādām*": "there is nothing better for a person/it is not good for man",
"*sheyyōʾkal wĕshātâ*": "than to eat and drink",
"*herʾāh ʾet-napshô ṭôb*": "to let himself enjoy good/to make his soul see good",
"*baʿămālô*": "in his work/in his labor/in his toil",
"*miyyad hāʾĕlōhîm*": "from the hand of God/from God"
}
}
25 {
"verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.25",
"source": "כִּ֣י מִ֥י יֹאכַ֛ל וּמִ֥י יָח֖וּשׁ ח֥וּץ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃",
"text": "Because who *yōʾkal* and who *yāḥûsh* outside from me.",
"grammar": {
"*yōʾkal*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he will eat",
"*yāḥûsh*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he will hurry/hasten",
"*mimmennî*": "preposition + 1st person singular suffix - from me"
},
"variants": {
"*mî yōʾkal*": "who can eat/who eats",
"*mî yāḥûsh*": "who can hasten/who can enjoy/who can worry",
"*ḥûṣ mimmennî*": "without me/apart from me/except for me"
}
}