Ecclesiastes 2:3
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.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 in other translations
| BSB | I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. |
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| WEB | 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. |
| 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. |
| DARBY | I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life. |
| BBE | I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life. |
| Webster | I sought in my heart, to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my 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. |
What does Ecclesiastes 2:3 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 2:3-11
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
The vanity and vexation of mirth, sensual pleasure, riches, and pomp. (Eccl. 2:1-11) Human wisdom insufficient. (Eccl. 2:12-17) This world to be used according to the will of God. (Eccl. 2:18-26) Verses 1-11 Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The manifold devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the world, and their changing from one…
Ecclesiastes 2:3 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
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Cross references for Ecclesiastes 2:3
- Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
- Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
- Proverbs 31:4-5
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
- Ecclesiastes 6:12
For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
- Genesis 47:9
And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
- Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
- Job 14:14
If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
- Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
- Proverbs 23:29-35
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. …
- Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
- Ecclesiastes 7:25
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:17; 1Sa 25:36
give myself unto wine. Heb. draw my flesh with wine. yet.
Pr 20:1; 31:4,5; Eph 5:18
and to lay.
7:18; Pr 20:1; 23:29-35; Mt 6:24; 2Co 6:15-17
till.
6:12; 12:13
all. Heb. the number of.
Ge 47:9; Job 14:14; Ps 90:9-12
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Ecclesiastes 2:2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
- Ecclesiastes 2:3
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.
- Ecclesiastes 2:4
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
Ecclesiastes 2:3 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Propuse en mi corazón agasajar mi carne con vino, y que anduviese mi corazón en sabiduría, con retención de la necedad, hasta ver cuál fuese el bien de los hijos de los hombres, en el cual se ocuparan debajo del cielo todos los días de su vida. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | J’ai recherché en mon cœur de traiter ma chair avec du vin, tout en conduisant mon cœur par la sagesse, et de saisir la folie, jusqu’à ce que je voie quel serait, pour les fils des hommes, ce bien qu’ils feraient sous les cieux tous les jours de leur vie. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Ich beschloß in meinem Herzen, meinen Leib durch Wein zu pflegen, während mein Herz sich mit Weisheit benähme, und es mit der Torheit zu halten, bis ich sähe, was den Menschenkindern gut wäre, unter dem Himmel zu tun die Zahl ihrer Lebenstage. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Cogitavi in corde meo abstrahere a vino carnem meam, ut animam meam transferrem ad sapientiam, devitaremque stultitiam, donec viderem quid esset utile filiis hominum, quo facto opus est sub sole numero dierum vitæ suæ. |