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The Holy Bible

King James Version
with full narration by Alexander Scourby

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Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

Ecclesiastes
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Ecclesiastes

2
📚 About this Book
✦ Chapter Overview

Ecclesiastes 2 records the Preacher's experiment of testing his heart with pleasure, wine, great works, houses, vineyards, gardens, orchards, pools, servants, herds, flocks, silver, gold, and the treasures of kings, as well as wisdom, only to conclude that all was vanity and vexation of spirit with no profit under the sun. He compares wisdom to folly as light to darkness, observing that the wise man's eyes are in his head while the fool walks in darkness, yet both share the same fate and are soon forgotten. The chapter closes with his conclusion that there is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy good in his labor, which is from God, for God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the good man but to the sinner He gives the travail of gathering and heaping to give to the good.

🔍 Text
(1) I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 2:15Ecclesiastes 1:16Ecclesiastes 1:17Ecclesiastes 3:17Ecclesiastes 3:18Psalms 10:6Psalms 14:1Psalms 27:8Psalms 30:6Psalms 30:7Luke 12:19Genesis 11:3

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 1:2

(2) I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 7:2Ecclesiastes 7:3Ecclesiastes 7:4Ecclesiastes 7:5Ecclesiastes 7:6Proverbs 14:13Isaiah 22:12Isaiah 22:13Amos 6:3Amos 6:4Amos 6:5Amos 6:6

(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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 1:17I Samuel 25:36Proverbs 20:1Proverbs 31:4Proverbs 31:5Ephesians 5:18Ecclesiastes 7:18Proverbs 23:29Proverbs 23:30Proverbs 23:31Proverbs 23:32Proverbs 23:33

Related verses (shared words)

Mark 2:22Daniel 10:3Ecclesiastes 2:12John 10:18Genesis 19:33Genesis 19:35

(4) I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 11:4II Samuel 18:18Daniel 4:30Deuteronomy 8:12Deuteronomy 8:13Deuteronomy 8:14I Kings 7:1I Kings 7:2I Kings 7:8I Kings 7:9I Kings 7:10I Kings 7:11

Related verses (shared words)

Amos 5:11Exodus 10:6Jeremiah 19:13Zephaniah 1:13Isaiah 59:6Galatians 2:16

(6) I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Nehemiah 2:14Song of Solomon 7:4Psalms 1:3Jeremiah 17:8

Related verses (shared words)

Leviticus 23:40II Chronicles 2:8I Kings 18:33Proverbs 30:33

(7) I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 9:20I Kings 9:21I Kings 9:22Ezra 2:58Nehemiah 7:57Genesis 17:12Genesis 17:13Genesis 13:2II Kings 3:4I Chronicles 27:29I Chronicles 27:30I Chronicles 27:31

Related verses (shared words)

Genesis 3:14Nehemiah 12:39John 3:31Genesis 31:43Genesis 47:17

(8) I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 9:14I Kings 9:28I Kings 10:10I Kings 14:21I Kings 14:22I Kings 14:27II Chronicles 9:11II Chronicles 9:15II Chronicles 9:16II Chronicles 9:17II Chronicles 9:18II Chronicles 9:19

Related verses (shared words)

I Chronicles 28:14I Chronicles 15:27Exodus 16:18Numbers 11:32Nehemiah 12:28Exodus 38:17

(9) So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 1:16I Kings 3:12I Kings 10:7I Kings 10:23I Chronicles 29:25II Chronicles 1:1II Chronicles 9:22II Chronicles 9:23

Related verses (shared words)

I Kings 4:30

(10) And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 3:22Ecclesiastes 6:9Ecclesiastes 11:9Genesis 3:6Genesis 6:2Judges 14:2Job 31:1Psalms 119:37Proverbs 23:5I John 2:16Ecclesiastes 2:22Ecclesiastes 5:18

Related verses (shared words)

Philippians 4:8Ecclesiastes 4:8Nehemiah 12:43Leviticus 11:42Ecclesiastes 2:21Ecclesiastes 5:18

(11) Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 1:14Genesis 1:31Exodus 39:43I John 2:16I John 2:17Ecclesiastes 2:17Ecclesiastes 2:18Ecclesiastes 2:19Ecclesiastes 2:20Ecclesiastes 2:21Ecclesiastes 2:22Ecclesiastes 2:23

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 9:9Ecclesiastes 1:14Ecclesiastes 2:17Ecclesiastes 2:19Ecclesiastes 2:22Ecclesiastes 1:3

(12) And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 1:17Ecclesiastes 7:25

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 2:3Proverbs 1:27Proverbs 11:2Ecclesiastes 1:17Ecclesiastes 7:25I Kings 4:30

(13) Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 7:11Ecclesiastes 7:12Ecclesiastes 9:16Proverbs 4:5Proverbs 4:6Proverbs 4:7Proverbs 16:16Malachi 3:18Malachi 4:1Malachi 4:2Ecclesiastes 11:7Psalms 119:105

Related verses (shared words)

Job 10:22Isaiah 5:20Matthew 6:23John 12:35Isaiah 30:26Genesis 1:4

(14) The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 8:1Ecclesiastes 10:2Ecclesiastes 10:3Proverbs 14:8Proverbs 17:24I John 2:11Ecclesiastes 9:1Ecclesiastes 9:2Ecclesiastes 9:3Ecclesiastes 9:11Ecclesiastes 9:16Psalms 19:10

Related verses (shared words)

I John 2:11Ecclesiastes 2:15Ecclesiastes 2:16Ecclesiastes 2:19Job 10:22Matthew 6:23

(15) Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 1:16Ecclesiastes 1:18I Kings 3:12Ecclesiastes 2:1Ecclesiastes 1:2Ecclesiastes 1:14

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 8:14Ecclesiastes 2:14Ecclesiastes 2:16Ecclesiastes 2:19Ecclesiastes 9:11I Corinthians 3:18

(16) For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 1:11Exodus 1:6Exodus 1:8Psalms 88:12Psalms 103:16Malachi 3:16Ecclesiastes 6:8II Samuel 3:33Psalms 49:10Hebrews 9:27

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 2:19I Corinthians 3:18Psalms 49:10Proverbs 1:5Proverbs 9:12Proverbs 10:8

(17) Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 11:15I Kings 19:4Job 3:20Job 3:21Job 3:22Job 7:15Job 7:16Job 14:13Jeremiah 20:14Jeremiah 20:15Jeremiah 20:16Jeremiah 20:17

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 2:11Ecclesiastes 9:9Ecclesiastes 1:14Deuteronomy 21:15Ecclesiastes 1:2

(18) Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 2:4Ecclesiastes 2:5Ecclesiastes 2:6Ecclesiastes 2:7Ecclesiastes 2:8Ecclesiastes 2:9Ecclesiastes 1:13Ecclesiastes 4:3Ecclesiastes 5:18Ecclesiastes 9:9Ecclesiastes 2:26Ecclesiastes 5:13

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 8:15Ecclesiastes 9:9Deuteronomy 21:15

(19) And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 3:22I Kings 12:14I Kings 12:15I Kings 12:16I Kings 12:17I Kings 12:18I Kings 12:19I Kings 12:20I Kings 14:25I Kings 14:26I Kings 14:27I Kings 14:28

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 2:16Ecclesiastes 2:22I Corinthians 3:18Ecclesiastes 9:9Numbers 12:11Psalms 90:15

(20) Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 43:14Job 17:11Job 17:12Job 17:13Job 17:14Job 17:15Psalms 39:6Psalms 39:7I Corinthians 15:19II Corinthians 1:8II Corinthians 1:9II Corinthians 1:10

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 8:15Ecclesiastes 9:9

(21) For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 2:17Ecclesiastes 2:18Ecclesiastes 9:18II Chronicles 31:20II Chronicles 31:21II Chronicles 33:2II Chronicles 33:3II Chronicles 33:4II Chronicles 33:5II Chronicles 33:6II Chronicles 33:7II Chronicles 33:8

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 9:9Exodus 36:2I Samuel 12:3Psalms 17:14Ezekiel 24:6Philippians 3:19

(22) For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 1:3Ecclesiastes 3:9Ecclesiastes 5:10Ecclesiastes 5:11Ecclesiastes 5:17Ecclesiastes 6:7Ecclesiastes 6:8Ecclesiastes 8:15Proverbs 16:26I Timothy 6:8Ecclesiastes 4:6Ecclesiastes 4:8

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 2:19Ecclesiastes 2:11Ecclesiastes 8:15Ecclesiastes 9:9

(23) For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 47:9Job 5:7Job 14:1Psalms 90:7Psalms 90:8Psalms 90:9Psalms 90:10Psalms 90:15Psalms 127:2Ecclesiastes 5:12Esther 6:1Job 7:13

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 1:2

(24) There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 3:12Ecclesiastes 3:13Ecclesiastes 3:22Ecclesiastes 5:18Ecclesiastes 8:15Ecclesiastes 9:7Ecclesiastes 9:8Ecclesiastes 9:9Ecclesiastes 11:9Ecclesiastes 11:10Deuteronomy 12:12Deuteronomy 12:18

(26) For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 7:1Luke 1:6II Chronicles 31:20II Chronicles 31:21Proverbs 3:13Proverbs 3:14Proverbs 3:15Proverbs 3:16Proverbs 3:17Proverbs 3:18Isaiah 3:10Isaiah 3:11

Related verses (shared words)

Ecclesiastes 7:12Proverbs 2:6Daniel 2:21Deuteronomy 12:10Psalms 119:130Proverbs 17:4

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