Ecclesiastes 2:1-15 (Revised Standard Version)
1
I said to myself, "Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity.
2
I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"
3
I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine--my mind still guiding me 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 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, man's delight.
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.
11
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
12
So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what he has already done.
13
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
14
The wise man has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; and yet I perceived that one fate comes to all of them.
15
Then I said to myself, "What befalls the fool will befall me also; why then have I been so very wise?" And I said to myself that this also is vanity.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version)
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Geneva Study Bible
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
- Ecclesiastes
- Ecclesiastes 2
- Ecclesiastes 2:1
- Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Ecclesiastes 2:3
- Ecclesiastes 2:4
- Ecclesiastes 2:5
- Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Ecclesiastes 2:7
- Ecclesiastes 2:8
- Ecclesiastes 2:9
- Ecclesiastes 2:10
- Ecclesiastes 2:11
- Ecclesiastes 2:12
- Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Ecclesiastes 2:14
- Ecclesiastes 2:15
Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)
Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)
Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)
Treasury Of Scripture Knowledge
- Ecclesiastes
- Ecclesiastes 2
- Ecclesiastes 2:1
- Ecclesiastes 2:2
- Ecclesiastes 2:3
- Ecclesiastes 2:4
- Ecclesiastes 2:5
- Ecclesiastes 2:6
- Ecclesiastes 2:7
- Ecclesiastes 2:8
- Ecclesiastes 2:9
- Ecclesiastes 2:10
- Ecclesiastes 2:11
- Ecclesiastes 2:12
- Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Ecclesiastes 2:14
- Ecclesiastes 2:15