Ecclesiastes 2:3
I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly until I see where this [is]—the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives.
Literal Standard Version
In The King James Version
In Context
2Of laughter I said, “Foolish!” And of mirth, “What [is] this it is doing?”
4I made great my works, I built for myself houses, I planted for myself vineyards.
Cross References
Genesis 47:9And Jacob says to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojournings [are] one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not reached the days of the years of the life of my fathers, in the days of their sojournings.”
Job 14:14If a man dies—does he revive? All [the] days of my warfare I wait, until my change comes.
Proverbs 20:1Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, || And any going astray in it is not wise.
Proverbs 31:4[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, || Not for kings, to drink wine, || And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
Ecclesiastes 2:24There is nothing good in a man who eats, and has drunk, and has shown his soul good in his labor. This also I have seen that it [is] from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 6:12For who knows what [is] good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he makes them as a shadow? For who declares to man what is 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 →