 |  | Ecclesiastes 2 |  |  |
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The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions | ||||
 NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 1 I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility. | 1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. | 1 I thought to myself, "Now I want to experiment with pleasure and enjoy myself." But even this was pointless. | 1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure;" and behold, this also was vanity. | 1 I said in my heart, Come now, I will try thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. But behold, this also is vanity. | 2 I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?" | 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? | 2 I thought, "Laughter doesn't make any sense. What does pleasure accomplish?" | 2 I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" | 2 I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it? | 3 I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives. | 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. | 3 I explored ways to make myself feel better by drinking wine. I also explored ways to do [some] foolish things. During all that time, wisdom continued to control my mind. I was able to determine whether this was good for mortals to do during their brief lives under heaven. | 3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives. | 3 I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life. | 4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; | 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: | 4 I accomplished some great things: I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself. | 4 I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. | 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; | 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; | 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: | 5 I made gardens and parks for myself. I planted every kind of fruit tree in them. | 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit. | 5 I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of every kind of fruit; | NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. | 6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: | 6 I made pools to water the forest of growing trees. | 6 I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared. | 6 I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood, where the trees are reared. | 7 I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. | 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: | 7 I bought male and female slaves. In addition, slaves were born in my household. I owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. | 7 I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem; | 7 I acquired servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that had been in Jerusalem before me. | 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men-- many concubines. | 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. | 8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself. I gathered the treasures of kings and provinces. I provided myself with male and female singers and the pleasures men have with one concubine after another. | 8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men--musical instruments, and that of all sorts. | 8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the children of men, a wife and concubines. | 9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. | 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. | 9 So I grew richer than anyone in Jerusalem before me. Yet, my wisdom remained with me. | 9 So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. | 9 And I became great, and increased more than all that had been before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. | 10 All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. | 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. | 10 If something appealed to me, I did it. I allowed myself to have any pleasure I wanted, since I found pleasure in my work. This was my reward for all my hard work. | 10 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn't keep from them. I didn't withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor. | 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 from all my labour. | NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun. | 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. | 11 But when I turned to look at all that I had accomplished and all the hard work I had put into it, I saw that it was all pointless. [It was like] trying to catch the wind. I gained nothing [from any of my accomplishments] under the sun. | 11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun. | 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that it had cost me to do them; and behold, all was vanity and pursuit of the wind, and there was no profit under the sun. | Wisdom Excels Folly |
| 12 So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done? | 12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. | 12 Then I turned [my attention] to experience wisdom, madness, and foolishness. For instance, what can the man who replaces the king do? Only what has already been done. | 12 I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago. | 12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly; for what shall the man do that cometh after the king? that which hath already been done. | 13 And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. | 13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. | 13 But I saw that wisdom has an advantage over foolishness as light has an advantage over darkness. | 13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness. | 13 And I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as light excelleth darkness. | 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both. | 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. | 14 A wise person uses the eyes in his head, but a fool walks in the dark. But I have also come to realize that the same destiny waits for both of them. | 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness--and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all. | 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness; but I myself also perceived that one event happeneth to them all. | 15 Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is vanity." | 15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. | 15 I thought to myself, "[If] the destiny that waits for the fool waits for me as well, then what is the advantage in being wise?" So I thought that even this is pointless. | 15 Then I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity. | 15 And I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool so will it happen even to me; and why was I then so wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity. | NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die! | 16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. | 16 Neither the wise person nor the fool will be remembered for long, since both will be forgotten in the days to come. Both the wise person and the fool will die. | 16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool! | 16 For there shall be no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; because everything is already forgotten in the days which come. And how dieth the wise even as the fool? | 17 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind. | 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. | 17 So I came to hate life because everything done under the sun seemed wrong to me. Everything was pointless. [It was like] trying to catch the wind. | 17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind. | 17 And I hated life; for the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and pursuit of the wind. | The Futility of Labor |
| 18 Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. | 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. | 18 I came to hate everything for which I had worked so hard under the sun, because I will have to leave it to the person who replaces me. | 18 I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. | 18 And I hated all my labour wherewith I had been toiling under the sun, because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. | 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity. | 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. | 19 Who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? He will still have control over everything under the sun for which I worked so hard and used my wisdom. Even this is pointless. | 19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. | 19 And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour at which I have laboured, and wherein I have been wise under the sun. This also is vanity. | 20 Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. | 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. | 20 Then I fell into despair over everything for which I had worked so hard under the sun. | 20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun. | 20 Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun. | NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. | 21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. | 21 Here is someone who had worked hard with wisdom, knowledge, and skill. Yet, he must turn over his estate to someone else, who didn't work for it. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy. | 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. | 21 For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill, and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein, to be his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. | 22 For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? | 22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? | 22 What do people get from all of their hard work and struggles under the sun? | 22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun? | 22 For what will man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart, wherewith he hath wearied himself under the sun? | 23 Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity. | 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. | 23 Their entire life is filled with pain, and their work is unbearable. Even at night their minds don't rest. Even this is pointless. | 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. | 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail vexation: even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity. | 24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. | 24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. | 24 There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God. | 24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. | 24 There is nothing good for man, but that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. | 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? | 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? | 25 Who can eat or enjoy themselves without God? | 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? | 25 For who can eat, or who be eager, more than I? | NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 26 For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind. | 26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. | 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to anyone who pleases him. But to the person who continues to sin, he gives the job of gathering and collecting [wealth]. The sinner must turn his wealth over to the person who pleases God. Even this is pointless. [It's like] trying to catch the wind. | 26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. | 26 For he giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good in God's sight. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind. |
<< Ecclesiastes 2 >> New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. GOD'S WORD is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. The World English Bible is a 1997 revision of the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible, first published in 1901. It is in the Public Domain. Please feel free to copy and distribute it freely. Thank you to Michael Paul Johnson for making this work available. For the latest information, to report corrections, or for other correspondence, visit www.ebible.org. | ||||