Ecclesiastes 2:4

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.

Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 2:4

<< Ecclesiastes 2:3

Ecclesiastes 2:5 >>

American Standard Version
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;

Amplified® Bible
I made great works; I built myself houses, I planted vineyards.

Contemporary English Version
I did some great things. I built houses and planted vineyards.

Darby English Version
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;

Good News Bible
I accomplished great things. I built myself houses and planted vineyards.

King James Version
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

New American Standard Bible
I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;

New International Version
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.

New King James Version
I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;

Revised Standard Version
I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself;

Young's Literal Translation
I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards.

<< Ecclesiastes 2:3

Ecclesiastes 2:5 >>

Join 137,059+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

The End of the Wise and the Fool

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning