Ecclesiastes 2:3
I searched in mine lev to draw my basar on with yayin, my mind guiding me with chochmah; and to lay hold on sichlut (folly), till I might see what was tov for bnei haAdam, which they should do under Shomayim all the few days of their life.
Orthodox Jewish Bible
In The King James Version
In Context
2I said of laughter, It is mad; and of simchah, What doeth it accomplish?
4I undertook me great works; I built me batim (houses); I planted me kramim (vineyards);
Cross References
Genesis 47:9And Ya'akov said unto Pharaoh, The days of the shanim of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty shanah; few and bad have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my avot in the days of their pilgrimage.
Job 14:14If a gever die, shall he live again? 1 All the days of my tzava (hard army service) will I wait, 1 till my chalifah (changing, renewal) come. 1
Proverbs 20:1The yayin is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; 1 and whosoever is seduced to be led astray thereby is not wise. 1
Proverbs 31:4It is not for melachim, O Lemuel, 1 it is not for melachim to drink yayin; 1 nor for rulers to crave strong drink; 1
Ecclesiastes 2:24There is nothing better for adam, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his nefesh find satisfaction in his amal. Also this I saw; even this was from the Yad HaElohim.
Ecclesiastes 6:12For who has da'as what is tov for adam in this life, all the few days of his chayyei hevel which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell adam what shall be after him under the shemesh?
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 →