Ecclesiastes 2:1
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.
Majority Standard Bible
In The King James Version
In Context
2I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
Cross References
Genesis 11:7Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
Psalms 10:6He says to himself, “I will not be moved; from age to age I am free of distress.”
Psalms 27:8My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.
Ecclesiastes 1:16I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”
Ecclesiastes 2:15So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
Ecclesiastes 3:17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:1
Solomon having pronounced all vanity, and particularly knowledge and learning, which he was so far from giving himself joy of that he found the increase of it did but increase his sorrow, in this chapter he goes on to show what reason he has to be tired of this world, and with what little reason most men are fond of it. I. He shows that there is no true happiness and satisfaction to be had in mirth and pleasure, and the delights of sense, ver. 1-11 . II. He reconsiders the pretensions of wisdom, and allows it to… Read the whole commentary →