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Ecclesiastes 2 :: American Standard Version (ASV)

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Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:1 - I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:2 - I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:3 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:4 - I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:5 - I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit;
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:6 - I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:7 - 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;
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:8 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:9 - So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:10 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:11 - 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.

Wisdom Excels Folly

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:12 - 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 done long ago.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:13 - Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:14 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:15 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:16 - 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!
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:17 - 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.

The Futility of Labor

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:18 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:19 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:20 - Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:21 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:22 - For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:23 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:24 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:25 - For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:26 - 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.
ASV

Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.

Pericope

Pericope taken from the NASB95 and has been graciously provided by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.
All rights reserved.

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