Ecclesiastes 2:3,17
Ecclesiastes 2:3 King James Version (KJV)
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.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 King James Version (KJV)
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.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 New King James Version (NKJV)
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.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 New King James Version (NKJV)
Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 New Living Translation (NLT)
After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 New Living Translation (NLT)
So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3 The Message (MSG)
I said to myself, “Let’s go for it—experiment with pleasure, have a good time!” But there was nothing to it, nothing but smoke. What do I think of the fun-filled life? Insane! Inane! My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it? With the help of a bottle of wine and all the wisdom I could muster, I tried my level best to penetrate the absurdity of life. I wanted to get a handle on anything useful we mortals might do during the years we spend on this earth.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 The Message (MSG)
I hate life. As far as I can see, what happens on earth is a bad business. It’s smoke—and spitting into the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 New Century Version (NCV)
So I hated life. It made me sad to think that everything here on earth is useless, like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 American Standard Version (ASV)
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.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 American Standard Version (ASV)
So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 New International Version (NIV)
I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 New International Version (NIV)
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 Amplified Bible (AMP)
I explored with my mind how to gratify myself with wine while [at the same time] having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.