Ecclesiastes 2:3
I sought out with my heart, to cherish with wine, my flesh,—but, my heart, was to guide with wisdom, even in laying hold of folly, until I should see which was blessedness for the sons of men, as to that which they could do, under the heavens, during the number of the days of their life.
The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham
In The King James Version
In Context
2Of laughter, I said, Madness! and, of mirth, What can it do?
4I enlarged my works,—I built me houses, I planted me vineyards;
Cross References
Genesis 47:9And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my sojournings, have been a hundred and thirty years,—Few and evil, have been the days of the years of my life, neither have they attained unto the days of the years of the lives of my fathers, in the days of their sojournings.
Job 14:14If a man die, can he live again? All the days of my warfare, would I wait, until my relief should come:—
Proverbs 20:1Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
Proverbs 31:4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
Ecclesiastes 2:24There was nothing more blessed for Man [than] that he should eat and drink, and see his desireth for blessedness in his toil,—even this, saw, I myself, that, from the hand of God, it was.
Ecclesiastes 6:12For who knoweth what is good for a man throughout his life, for the number of the days of his life of vanity, seeing he will make them, like a shadow,—for who can tell a man, what shall 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 →