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.
KJV
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.
Vulgate
καὶ κατεσκεψάμην εἰ ἡ καρδία μου ἑλκύσει ὡς οἶνον τὴν σάρκα μου· καὶ καρδία μου ὡδήγησεν ἐν σοφίᾳ καὶ τοῦ κρατῆσαι ἐπ’ εὐφροσύνῃ, ἕως οὗ ἴδω ποῖον τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὃ ποιήσουσιν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτῶν.
LXX
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.
ASV
תַּ֣רְתִּי בְ/לִבִּ֔/י לִ/מְשׁ֥וֹךְ בַּ/יַּ֖יִן אֶת בְּשָׂרִ֑/י וְ/לִבִּ֞/י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽ/חָכְמָה֙ וְ/לֶ/אֱחֹ֣ז בְּ/סִכְל֔וּת עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר אֶרְאֶ֗ה אֵי זֶ֨ה ט֜וֹב לִ/בְנֵ֤י הָ/אָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַעֲשׂוּ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַ/שָּׁמַ֔יִם מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּי/הֶֽם
Hebrew
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In the original Hebrew
24 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.
Historic Christian voices
3 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
Cross-references
- 1Pet 3:10 — For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
- Eccl 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.
- Eccl 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.
- Eccl 3:1 — To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
- Eccl 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?
- Eccl 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?
- Eccl 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.
- Eccl 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.
- Eph 5:18 — And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
- Gen 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
- Prov 20:1 — Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
- Prov 31:4 — It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
- Ps 34:12 — What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?