Ecclesiastes 2:3
I resolved in my heart to indulge my body with wine, while my heart guideth itself with wisdom; and to lay fast hold on folly, till I might see what it is that is good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heavens during the number of the days of their life.
Leeser Tanakh
In The King James Version
In Context
2Of laughter I said, It maketh one mad: and of joy, What doth this do?
4I made great works: I built myself houses; I planted myself vineyards;
Cross References
Genesis 47:9And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years: few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
Job 14:14Or, when a man dieth, will he live again? all the days of my time of service would I then wait, till [the hour of] my release were come.
Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
Proverbs 31:4Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
Ecclesiastes 2:24It is not a good thing [inherent] in man that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy happiness for his toil. Also this have I seen, that it cometh out of the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 6:12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, the number of the days of his vain life, that he should spend them as a shadow? for who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:2-12
Vanity of Worldly Pleasure. 1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 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… Read the whole commentary →