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Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

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Viewing the Standard King James Version (Pure Cambridge). Click to switch to 1611 King James Version of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2


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 vineyards:

5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:

8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

 


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Matthew Henry's Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 Bible commentary...



The vanity and vexation of mirth, sensual pleasure, riches, and pomp. (1-11) Human wisdom insufficient. (12-17) This world to be used according to the will of God. (18-26)1-11 Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The manifold devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the world, and their changing from one thing to another, are like the restlessness of a man in a fever. Perceiving it was folly to give himself to wine, he next tried the costly amusements of princes. The poor, when they read such a description, are ready to feel discontent. But the remedy against all such feelings is in the estimate of it all by the owner himself. All was vanity and vexation of spirit: and the same things would yield the same result to us, as to Solomon. Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content. His wisdom remained with him; a strong understanding, with great human knowledge. But every earthly pleasure, when unconnected with better blessings, leaves the mind as eager and unsatisfied as before. Happiness arises not from the situation in which we are placed. It is only through Jesus Christ that final blessedness can be attained.

12-17 Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Christ Jesus, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul in hell? And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were all, we might be led to hate our life, as it is all vanity and vexation of spirit.

18-26 Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges to the world, which affords a man nothing better than subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful use thereof, according to his rank and condition. But we must enjoy good in our labour; we must use those things to make us diligent and cheerful in worldly business. And this is the gift of God. Riches are a blessing or a curse to a man, according as he has, or has not, a heart to make a good use of them. To those that are accepted of the Lord, he gives joy and satisfaction in the knowledge and love of him. But to the sinner he allots labour, sorrow, vanity, and vexation, in seeking a worldly portion, which yet afterwards comes into better hands. Let the sinner seriously consider his latter end. To seek a lasting portion in the love of Christ and the blessings it bestows, is the only way to true and satisfying enjoyment even of this present world.

 


Recent Comments for Ecclesiastes Chapter 2...

 


Prince Tuck's Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 comment about verse 14 on 4/25/2013, 1:10am...

Re: Eccl 2:14

Another divine reminder that the Heretofore is preparation for the Hereafter (Death is only the beginning)... Wisdom is Divine Guidance, rewarded in both the Heretofore and the Hereafter! So capitalise! Because Death doesn't discriminate. All that's left is Piety.

 


Ngel Ukoh's Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 comment on 3/07/2013, 5:16am...

Ecclesiastes 2 made me to understand that we should not hold the things of this world very tied, so that when the time comes it will be easy to leave them without pain, because everything under the earth is vanity upon vanity.

 


Joseph G. Conteh's Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 comment on 9/19/2012, 2:29pm...

The economics' theory of unlimited wants of human beings is being drawn from Ecclesiastes. One may desire something, the moment s(he) gets that, then another desire emerges. One is never satisfied with whatever s(he) has, does, sees, hears, feels etc... Therefore one needs to have a neutralizing point which is the Lord God who should be allowed to reign in our lives. We need to care for one another and avoid gathering riches which may be inherited by our enemies.

 


Terry Trussell's Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 comment on 9/16/2012, 4:20am...

I have been away from God for a long time, but I have been feeling his presence all around me lately, I was saved on Feb.21 1994, after a few years I left the church, been trying life on my own, it hasn’t been working out too good! I'm just Thankful we have a forgiving God, like he said he'll never leave me nor forsake me. Praise Jesus!! Will keep asking for prayers for encouragement and uplifting my spirits!

 


Victoria Tupu's Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 comment on 5/28/2012, 3:22am...

I agree really nothing but Jesus, what matters. Don't store treasures for no reason. Help, give to poor and do everything what Jesus would want you to do. Love my father(:

 


Bernie's Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 comment on 5/20/2010, 9:30am...

What I got Is really we are really nothing In the sight of GOD.What ever we get Is from GOD.We need to give all the Glory because we could not have done It without him.What we have Is GOD.We need to have his character and his righteousness and the love his for the human race.

 


Reggie's Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 comment on 3/05/2010, 11:38am...

As New Testament Believers when reading Old Testament scriptures hine sight is always 20/20. Very few if any, New Testament writers had any knowledge about Jesus Christ and the New Testament Church. Their point of references was based on the Nation of Israel and no Old Testament Saint was sealed with the Holy Spirit or received salvation as we have. Also, being saved isn't the catch all of life; we have eternal life thank God for Jesus Christ and the blessings thereof. Labour is labour and that within itself produces a certain amount of toil and anxiety.

 


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Test Your Knowledge of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

1.  According to Ecclesiastes, what does God give to the person that pleases Him?


Wisdom, knowledge, and joy
Wisdom and knowledge
Wisdom, knowledge, and power
Wisdom, knowledge, and a heritage


 



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