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The Blue Letter Bible

Ecclesiastes 2 :: New English Translation (NET)

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:1

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:1 - I thought to myself, "Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile." But I found that it also is futile.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:2

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:2 - I said of partying, "It is folly," and of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!"

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:3

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:3 - I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:4

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:4 - I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:5

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:5 - I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:6

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:6 - I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:7

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:7 - I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock - both herds and flocks - than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:8

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:8 - I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight - a harem of beautiful concubines!

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:9

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:9 - So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:10

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:10 - I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:11

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:11 - Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: "All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless - like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth."

Wisdom Excels Folly

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:12

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:12 - Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:13

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:13 - I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:14

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:14 - The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:15

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:15 - So I thought to myself, "The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So I lamented to myself, "The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!"

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:16

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:16 - For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies - just like the fool!

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:17

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:17 - So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile - like chasing the wind.

The Futility of Labor

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:18

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:18 - So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:19

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:19 - Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:20

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:20 - So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:21

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:21 - For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:22

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:22 - What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:23

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:23 - For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:24

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:24 - There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:25

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:25 - For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.

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Unchecked Copy Box Ecc 2:26

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 2:26 - For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth - only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile - like chasing the wind!
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The NET Bible®, New English Translation Copyright © 1996 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NET Bible® is a registered trademark The NET Bible® Logo, Service Mark Copyright © 1997 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

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Pericope

Pericope taken from the NASB95 and has been graciously provided by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.
All rights reserved.

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Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras