Ecclesiastes 2 (NET)

Ecclesiastes 2:1¹I thought to myself, “Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.” But I found that it also is futile.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:2²I said of partying, “It is folly,” and of self-indulgent pleasure, “It accomplishes nothing!”Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:3³I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:4⁴I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:5⁵I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:6⁶I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:7⁷I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock—both herds and flocks— than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:8⁸I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight —a harem of beautiful concubines.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:9⁹So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:10¹⁰I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:11¹¹Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless — like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:12¹²Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:13¹³I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:14¹⁴The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:15¹⁵So I thought to myself, “The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself, “The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:16¹⁶For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies—just like the fool!Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:17¹⁷So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile—like chasing the wind.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:18¹⁸So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:19¹⁹Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth. This also is futile!Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:20²⁰So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:21²¹For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:22²²What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:23²³For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax. This also is futile!Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:24²⁴There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:25²⁵For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 2:26²⁶For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth — only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile—like chasing the wind!Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s