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I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

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I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; [a]therefore enjoy [b]pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it? I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet [c]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 [d]all the days of their life.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:1 Or, and thou shalt enjoy
  2. Ecclesiastes 2:1 Or, good
  3. Ecclesiastes 2:3 Or, holding its course
  4. Ecclesiastes 2:3 Hebrew the number of days of their life.