Ecclesiastes 2:1-10

Pleasures Are Meaningless

1 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless.
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[a] 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.

Cross References 12

  • 1. ver 24; Ecclesiastes 7:4; Ecclesiastes 8:15; Luke 12:19
  • 2. S Proverbs 14:13; Ecclesiastes 7:6
  • 3. ver 24-25; S Judges 9:13; Ruth 3:3; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; Ecclesiastes 5:18; Ecclesiastes 8:15
  • 4. S Ecclesiastes 1:17
  • 5. 1 Kings 7:1-12; 2 Chronicles 2:1; 2 Chronicles 8:1-6
  • 6. Song of Songs 8:11
  • 7. 2 Chronicles 8:7-8
  • 8. S 1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:10,14,21
  • 9. S Judges 3:15
  • 10. S 2 Samuel 19:35
  • 11. Ecclesiastes 1:12
  • 12. 1 Chronicles 29:25; Ecclesiastes 1:16

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
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