# Ecclesiastes 2 ## Ecclesiastes 2:1 - [KJV] I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also *is* vanity. - [ASV] I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity. - [YLT] I said in my heart, 'Pray, come, I try thee with mirth, and look thou on gladness;' and lo, even it *is* vanity. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:1 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:2 - [KJV] I said of laughter, *It is* mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? - [ASV] I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it? - [YLT] Of laughter I said, 'Foolish!' and of mirth, 'What *is* this it is doing?' ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:2 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:3 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding *me* with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life. - [YLT] 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 till that I see where *is* this -- the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:3 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:4 - [KJV] I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: - [ASV] I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; - [YLT] I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:4 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:5 - [KJV] I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all *kind of* fruits: - [ASV] I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit; - [YLT] I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:5 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:6 - [KJV] I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: - [ASV] I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared; - [YLT] I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:6 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:7 - [KJV] 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: - [ASV] I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem; - [YLT] I got men-servants, and maid-servants, and sons of the house were to me; also, I had much substance -- herd and flock -- above all who had been before me in Jerusalem. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:7 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:8 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts. - [YLT] I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:8 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:9 - [KJV] So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. - [ASV] So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. - [YLT] And I became great, and increased above every one who had been before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stood with me. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:9 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:10 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor. - [YLT] And all that mine eyes asked I kept not back from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this hath been my portion, from all my labour, ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:10 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:11 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun. - [YLT] and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labour that I have laboured to do, and lo, the whole *is* vanity and vexation of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun! ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:11 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:12 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] 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 done long ago. - [YLT] And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what *is* the man who cometh after the king? that which *is* already -- they have done it! ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:12 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:13 - [KJV] Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. - [ASV] Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. - [YLT] And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom above folly, like the advantage of the light above the darkness. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:13 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:14 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all. - [YLT] The wise! -- his eyes *are* in his head, and the fool in darkness is walking, and I also knew that one event happeneth with them all; ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:14 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:15 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity. - [YLT] and I said in my heart, 'As it happeneth with the fool, it happeneth also with me, and why am I then more wise?' And I spake in my heart, that also this *is* vanity: ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:15 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:16 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool! - [YLT] That there is no remembrance to the wise -- with the fool -- to the age, for that which *is* already, *in* the days that are coming is all forgotten, and how dieth the wise? with the fool! ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:16 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:17 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind. - [YLT] And I have hated life, for sad to me *is* the work that hath been done under the sun, for the whole *is* vanity and vexation of spirit. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:17 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:18 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me. - [YLT] And I have hated all my labour that I labour at under the sun, because I leave it to a man who is after me. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:18 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:19 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. - [YLT] And who knoweth whether he is wise or foolish? yet he doth rule over all my labour that I have laboured at, and that I have done wisely under the sun! this also *is* vanity. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:19 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:20 - [KJV] Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. - [ASV] Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun. - [YLT] And I turned round to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour that I laboured at under the sun. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:20 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:21 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. - [YLT] For there is a man whose labour *is* in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, and to a man who hath not laboured therein he giveth it -- his portion! Even this *is* vanity and a great evil. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:21 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:22 - [KJV] For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? - [ASV] For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun? - [YLT] For what hath been to a man by all his labour, and by the thought of his heart that he laboured at under the sun? ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:22 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:23 - [KJV] For all his days *are* sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. - [ASV] For all his days are *but* sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity. - [YLT] For all his days are sorrows, and his travail sadness; even at night his heart hath not lain down; this also *is* vanity. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:23 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:24 - [KJV] *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. - [ASV] There is nothing better for a man *than* that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. - [YLT] There is nothing good in a man who eateth, and hath drunk, and hath shewn his soul good in his labour. This also I have seen that it *is* from the hand of God. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:24 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:25 - [KJV] For who can eat, or who else can hasten *hereunto*, more than I? - [ASV] For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? - [YLT] For who eateth and who hasteth out more than I? ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:25 - ## Ecclesiastes 2:26 - [KJV] 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. - [ASV] For to the man that pleaseth him *God* giveth 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 pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. - [YLT] For to a man who *is* good before Him, He hath given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He hath given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this *is* vanity and vexation of spirit. ### Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:26 -