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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Luke 12:19Eccl 8:15Jas 5:1Jas 5:5Ps 27:82 Kgs 5:5Eccl 1:16-17Eccl 11:9Eccl 2:15Eccl 3:17-18

Ecclesiastes 2:2²I said of partying, “It is folly,” and of self-indulgent pleasure, “It accomplishes nothing!”Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Prov 14:131 Pet 4:2-4Eccl 7:2-6Amos 6:3-6Isa 22:12-13

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Prov 20:1Eccl 1:17Eccl 12:13Eccl 6:12Eph 5:18Gen 47:9Prov 31:4-51 Sam 25:362 Cor 6:15-17Eccl 2:24

Ecclesiastes 2:4⁴I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Kgs 7:1-121 Chr 27:271 Kgs 10:19-201 Kgs 15:191 Kgs 9:12 Chr 26:102 Chr 8:1-62 Chr 8:112 Sam 18:18Dan 4:30

Ecclesiastes 2:5⁵I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Gen 2:8-9Jer 39:4Luke 17:27-29Song 4:12-5:1Song 6:2

Ecclesiastes 2:6⁶I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Neh 2:14Jer 17:8Ps 1:3Song 7:4

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Chr 27:29-311 Kgs 4:231 Kgs 9:20-222 Chr 26:102 Chr 32:27-292 Kgs 3:4Ezra 2:58Gen 13:2Gen 14:14Gen 15:3

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Kgs 10:101 Kgs 9:282 Sam 19:351 Kgs 10:141 Chr 25:11 Chr 25:61 Kgs 10:211 Kgs 14:21-221 Kgs 14:271 Kgs 9:14

Ecclesiastes 2:9⁹So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Chr 29:25Eccl 1:161 Kgs 10:232 Chr 9:22-231 Kgs 10:71 Kgs 3:122 Chr 1:1

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 3:22Eccl 5:18Eccl 9:9Ps 119:37Ps 128:21 John 2:16Eccl 2:22Eccl 11:9Eccl 6:9Gen 3:6

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 1:141 John 2:16-17Eccl 1:31 Tim 6:6Exod 39:43Gen 1:31Eccl 2:17-23Hab 2:13

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 1:17Eccl 7:25Eccl 1:9-10

Ecclesiastes 2:13¹³I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eph 5:8Eccl 7:11-12Eccl 11:7Matt 6:23Luke 11:34-35Mal 3:18-4:2Ps 119:105Eccl 7:19Eccl 9:16Eccl 9:18

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Ps 49:10Prov 17:24Eccl 9:111 John 2:11Eccl 3:19Eccl 9:1-3Eccl 10:2-3Eccl 6:6Eccl 7:2Eccl 8:1

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 6:8Eccl 1:141 Kgs 3:12Eccl 1:16Eccl 1:18-2:1Eccl 1:2Eccl 2:16

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 1:11Eccl 9:5Exod 1:8Heb 9:27Mal 3:16Ps 88:122 Sam 3:33Eccl 2:14Eccl 6:8Exod 1:6

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 2:11Eccl 4:2Jonah 4:81 Kgs 19:4Eccl 1:14Eccl 2:22Eccl 3:16Eccl 6:9Ezek 3:14Hab 1:3

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Ps 39:6Ps 49:10Luke 16:27-281 Cor 3:101 Kgs 11:11-13Acts 20:29-30Eccl 1:13Eccl 1:3Eccl 2:26Eccl 2:4-9

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 3:22Jas 3:171 Kgs 12:14-201 Kgs 14:25-282 Chr 10:13-162 Chr 12:9-10Eccl 9:13Jas 1:17Luke 16:8

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:1 Cor 15:191 Thess 3:3-42 Cor 1:8-10Gen 43:14Job 17:11-15Ps 39:6-7

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 2:17-182 Chr 31:20-212 Chr 33:2-92 Chr 34:22 Chr 35:182 Chr 36:5-10Eccl 9:18Jer 22:15Jer 22:17

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 1:3Ps 127:21 Pet 5:71 Tim 6:8Eccl 3:9Eccl 4:6Matt 6:34Phil 4:6Eccl 4:8Eccl 5:10-11

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Job 14:1Job 5:7Job 7:13-14Ps 127:2Ps 6:6-7Acts 14:22Dan 6:18Eccl 1:18Eccl 5:12Esth 6:1

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 3:22Eccl 8:151 Tim 6:17Eccl 3:12-13Eccl 5:18-19Eccl 9:7-91 Cor 15:32Deut 12:18Acts 14:17Deut 12:12

Ecclesiastes 2:25²⁵For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Eccl 2:1-121 Kgs 4:21-24

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’sMany Bible VersionsAsk AICross Refs:Prov 13:22Job 27:16-17Prov 28:8Isa 3:10-11John 16:242 Chr 31:20-21Col 3:16-17Prov 3:13-18Col 1:9-12Job 32:8