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Ecclesiastes 2:2-10
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 2
2
I said of laughter, '
It is
senseless,' and of pleasure, 'What does this accomplish?'
3
I explored with my mind
how
to refresh my body with wine while my mind was guiding
me
wisely; and how to seize foolishness, until I could see what good there is for the sons of mankind to do under heaven for the few years of their lives.
4
I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;
5
I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;
6
I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.
7
I bought male and female slaves, and I had slaves
born
at home. I also possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.
8
I also amassed for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers, and the pleasures of the sons of mankind: many concubines.
9
Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.
10
All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor.
King James Version
Chapter 2
2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
3
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
4
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
5
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
6
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
7
I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
8
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
9
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
10
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 2
2
I said about laughter, "It is madness," and about pleasure, "What does this accomplish?"
3
I explored with my mind the pull of wine on my body—my mind still guiding me with wisdom— and how to grasp folly, until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
4
I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
5
I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them.
6
I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.
7
I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house. I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.
8
I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men.
9
So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me.
10
All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.
New Living Translation
Chapter 2
2
So I said, 'Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?'
3
After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.
4
I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards.
5
I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees.
6
I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves.
7
I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me.
8
I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!
9
So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me.
10
Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors.
English Standard Version
Chapter 2
2
I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"
3
I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine — my heart still guiding me with wisdom — and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
4
I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
5
I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.
6
I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.
7
I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.
8
I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
9
So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
10
And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
New International Version
Chapter 2
2
"Laughter," I said, "is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?"
3
I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
4
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
5
I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6
I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
7
I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
8
I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart.
9
I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
New King James Version
Chapter 2
2
I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
3
I searched in my heart
how
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
good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
4
I made my works great, I built myself houses, 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 to water the growing trees of the grove.
7
I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
8
I 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,
and
musical instruments of all kinds.
9
So I became great and excelled more 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 this was my reward from all my labor.
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