Ecclesiastes 2:3
Good News Translation
Driven on by my desire for wisdom, I decided to cheer myself up with wine and have a good time. I thought that this might be the best way people can spend their short lives on earth.

New Revised Standard Version
I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life.

Contemporary English Version
I wanted to find out what was best for us during the short time we have on this earth. So I decided to make myself happy with wine and find out what it means to be foolish, without really being foolish myself.

New American Bible
Guided by wisdom, I probed with my mind how to beguile my senses with wine and take up folly, until I should understand what is good for human beings to do under the heavens during the limited days of their lives.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.

sought

Ecclesiastes 1:17 And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,

1 Samuel 25:36 And Abigail came to Nabal: and behold he had a feast in his house, like the feast of a king: and Nabal's heart was merry, for he was very drunk: and she told him nothing less or more until morning.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith, shall not be wise.

Proverbs 31:4,5 Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth: . . .

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury: but be ye filled with the Holy Spirit,

and to lay

Ecclesiastes 7:18 It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith, shall not be wise.

Proverbs 23:29-35 Who hath woe? whose father hath woe? who hath contentions? who falls into pits? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? . . .

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

2 Corinthians 6:15-17 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever? . . .

till

Ecclesiastes 6:12 What needeth a man to seek things that are above him, whereas he knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and the time that passeth like a shadow? Or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:

all

Genesis 47:9 He answered: The days of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years, few, and evil, and they are not come up to the days of the pilgrimage of my fathers.

Job 14:14 Shall man that is dead, thinkest thou, live again? all the days in which I am now in warfare, I expect until my change come.

Psalm 90:9-12 For all our days are spent; and in thy wrath we have fainted away. Our years shall be considered as a spider: . . .

Context
The Futility of Pleasure
2Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived? 3I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.4I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards,…
Cross References
Judges 9:13
And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?

Psalm 104:15
And that wine may cheer the heart of man. That he may make the face cheerful with oil: and that bread may strengthen man's heart.

Ecclesiastes 2:24
Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:12
And I have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice, and to do well in this life.

Ecclesiastes 3:13
For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of his labour, this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:18
This therefore hath seemed good to me, that a man should eat and drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labour, wherewith he hath laboured under the sun, all the days of his life, which God hath given him: and this is his portion.

Ecclesiastes 6:12
What needeth a man to seek things that are above him, whereas he knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and the time that passeth like a shadow? Or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 7:25
I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:

Ecclesiastes 8:15
Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 10:19
For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:

Ecclesiastes 2:2
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