Parallel Verses
Julia Smith Translation
To laughter I said, It is mad: and to gladness, What did this?
New American Standard Bible
King James Version
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Holman Bible
I said about laughter,
International Standard Version
"Senseless," said I concerning laughter and pleasure, "How practical is this?"
A Conservative Version
I said of laughter, It is mad, and of mirth, What does it do?
American Standard Version
I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?
Amplified
I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
Bible in Basic English
Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy--What use is it?
Darby Translation
I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it?
King James 2000
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What use is it?
Lexham Expanded Bible
I said of laughter, "[It is] folly!" and of pleasure, "{What does it accomplish?}"
Modern King James verseion
I said of laughter, It is madness; and of mirth, What does it do?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
insomuch that I said unto laughter, "Thou art mad," and to mirth, "What doest thou?"
NET Bible
I said of partying, "It is folly," and of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!"
New Heart English Bible
I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
The Emphasized Bible
Of laughter, I said, Madness! and, of mirth, What can it do?
Webster
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
World English Bible
I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
Youngs Literal Translation
Of laughter I said, 'Foolish!' and of mirth, 'What is this it is doing?'
Interlinear
References
Fausets
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 2:2
Verse Info
Context Readings
Qohelet's Investigation Of Self-Indulgence
1 I Said in my heart, Go now, I will prove thee with gladness, and look thou upon good: and behold, this also vanity. 2 To laughter I said, It is mad: and to gladness, What did this? 3 I examined in my heart to draw my flesh with wine, and my heart led in wisdom; and to lay hold upon folly till that I shall see what this good to the sons of man which they will do under the heavens the number of the days of their life.
Cross References
Proverbs 14:13
Also in laughter the heart shall have pain, and its latter state of joy, grief.
Ecclesiastes 7:2-6
Good to go to the house of mourning rather than to go to the house of drinking, in that it is the end of every man; and he living shall give to his heart.
Isaiah 22:12-13
And the Lord Jehovah of armies in that day will call to weeping and to wailing, and to baldness and to girding with sackcloth:
Amos 6:3-6
Extending to the evil day, and ye will bring near the seat of violence;
1 Peter 4:2-4
That no more to the eager desires of men, but to the will of God, should he live the remaining time in the flesh.