Ecclesiastes 2:3-11 NKJV


Ecclesiastes 2:3-11 I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.

I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.

I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.

I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.

I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure. For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

I command with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge."

And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?

I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work of God does from beginning to end.

I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor-it is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 Moreover I saw under the sun; In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there.

I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work."

I said in my heart, "Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals."

For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them; as one dies, so does the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.

All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?

So perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?