Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

The Vanity of Self-Indulgence

1I asaid in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.
The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26 (see note on 1:2)
2I csaid of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3I dsearched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on efolly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4I made great works. I fbuilt houses and planted gvineyards for myself. 5I made myself hgardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7I bought male and female slaves, and had islaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of jherds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8I also gathered for myself silver and kgold and the treasure of lkings and mprovinces. I got nsingers, both men and women, and many oconcubines,
The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
the delight of the sons of man.

9So I became great and qsurpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my rwisdom remained with me. 10And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart sfound pleasure in all my toil, and this was my treward for all my toil. 11Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was uvanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing vto be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15

15Then I said in my heart, w“What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:17

17So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for xall is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

19and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21-23

21because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22What has a man from yall the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23For zall his days are full of sorrow, and his aawork is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

26For to the one who pleases him abGod has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given acthe business of gathering and collecting, adonly to give to one who pleases God. aeThis also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

8one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his afeyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, ag“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy ahbusiness.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

16There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is aivanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 5:15-16

15 ajAs he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. 16This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what akgain is there to him who altoils for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 6:11

11The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?
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