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Ecclesiastes 2:1
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The Vanity of Pleasure

1 I said ain my heart, “Come now, I will test you with bmirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, cthis also was vanity.  
2 I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
3 aI searched in my heart how1 to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was bgood for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.  
4 I made my works great, I built myself ahouses, and planted myself vineyards.  
5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6 I made myself water pools from which to1 water the growing trees of the grove.  
7 I acquired male and female servants, and had1 servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.  
8 aI also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and1 musical instruments of all kinds.  
9 aSo I became great and1 excelled bmore than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 
10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;
And athis was my reward from all my labor. 
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was avanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun. 

The End of the Wise and the Fool

12 Then I turned myself to consider wisdom aand madness and folly;
For what can the man do who succeeds the king?—
Only what he has already bdone. 
13 Then I saw that wisdom aexcels folly
As light excels darkness. 
Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 2:1

<< Ecclesiastes 1:18   Ecclesiastes 2:2 >>

American Standard Version
I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.

Amplified® Bible
I SAID in my mind, Come now, I will prove you with mirth {and} test you with pleasure; so have a good time [enjoy pleasure]. But this also was vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

Contemporary English Version
I said to myself, "Have fun and enjoy yourself!" But this didn't make sense.

Darby English Version
I said in my heart, Come now, I will try thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. But behold, this also is vanity.

Good News Bible
I decided to enjoy myself and find out what happiness is. But I found that this is useless, too.

King James Version
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

New American Standard Bible
I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself. And behold, it too was futility."

New International Version
I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless.

New King James Version
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too seemed futile.

Revised Standard Version
I said to myself, "Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity.

Young's Literal Translation
I said in my heart, `Pray, come, I try thee with mirth, and look thou on gladness;' and lo, even it `is' vanity.


<< Ecclesiastes 1:18   Ecclesiastes 2:2 >>

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