Ecclesiastes 2:1-16

Christian Standard Bible

The Emptiness of Pleasure

2 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure;^(A) enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. ² I said about laughter,^(B) “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” ³ I explored with my mind the pull of wine^(C) on my body—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to grasp folly,^(D) until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven^[a] during the few days of their lives.^(E)

The Emptiness of Possessions

⁴ I increased my achievements. I built houses^(F) and planted vineyards^(G) for myself. ⁵ I made gardens^(H) and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. ⁶ I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.^{(I) 7} I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house.^(J) I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.^{(K) 8} I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.^(L) I gathered male and female singers for myself,^(M) and many concubines, the delights of men.^{[b][c] 9} So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem;^(N) my wisdom also remained with me. ¹⁰ All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them.^(O) I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.^{(P) 11} When I considered all that I had accomplished^[d] and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind.^[e](Q) There was nothing to be gained under the sun.^(R)

The Relative Value of Wisdom

¹² Then I turned to consider wisdom,^(S) madness, and folly, for what will the king’s successor^[f] be like? He^[g] will do what has already been done.^{(T) 13} And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.^(U)

Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both.^{(W) 15} So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” ^(X) And I said to myself that this is also futile. ¹⁶ For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise,^(Y) since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise person dies just like the fool?