Ecclesiastes 2:3

HCSB

Ecclesiastes 2:3

Parallel Verses

Holman Bible

I explored with my mind how to let my body enjoy life with wine and how to grasp folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

New American Standard Bible

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.

King James Version

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.

International Standard Version

I decided to indulge in wine, while still remaining committed to wisdom. I also tried to indulge in foolishness, just enough to determine whether it was good for human beings under heaven given the short time of their lives.

A Conservative Version

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 th

American Standard Version

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.

Amplified

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.

Bible in Basic English

I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life.

Darby Translation

I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.

Julia Smith Translation

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.

King James 2000

I sought in my heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men, which they should do under heaven all the days of their life.

Lexham Expanded Bible

I also {explored} {the effects of indulging my flesh} with wine. My mind guiding me with wisdom, {I investigated} folly so that I might discover what [is] good under heaven for {humans} to do {during the days of their lives}.

Modern King James verseion

I sought in my heart to drag my flesh with wine, yet leading my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, until I might see where the good for the sons of men might be, what they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

So I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, to apply my mind unto wisdom, and to comprehend foolishness until the time that among all the things which are under the Sun, I might see what were best for men to do, so long as they live under heaven.

NET Bible

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.

New Heart English Bible

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

The Emphasized Bible

I sought out with my heart, to cherish with wine, my flesh, - but, my heart, was to guide with wisdom, even in laying hold of folly, until I should see which was blessedness for the sons of men, as to that which they could do, under the heavens, during the number of the days of their life.

Webster

I sought in my heart, to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my 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.

World English Bible

Youngs Literal Translation

I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite, (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly till that I see where is this -- the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives.

Themes

Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon

Vanity » Worldly enjoyment is

Topics

Alcohol

Drinking Wine

Under The Sun

Being Happy And Enjoying Life

Enjoying Life

exploring

Interlinear

English(KJV)

Strong's

Root Form

Definition

Usage

I sought

H8446

תּוּר
Tuwr

search, search out, spy out, seek, chapmen ., descry, espied, excellent, merchantmen .

Usage: 23

in mine heart

H3820

לב
Leb

heart, mind, midst, understanding, hearted, wisdom, comfortably, well, considered, friendly, kindly, stouthearted , care ,

Usage: 598

to give

H4900

משׁך
Mashak

draw, draw out, prolonged, scattered, draw along, draw away, continue, deferred,

Usage: 36

myself

H1320

בּשׂר
Basar

flesh, body, fatfleshed , leanfleshed , kin, leanfleshed , mankind , myself, nakedness, skin

Usage: 270

unto wine

H3196

יין
Yayin

wine, vine, banqueting, winebibbers

Usage: 140

yet acquainting

H5090

נהג
Nahag

lead, ...away, drive, forth, guide, brought, acquainting, brought in

Usage: 31

mine heart

H3820

לב
Leb

heart, mind, midst, understanding, hearted, wisdom, comfortably, well, considered, friendly, kindly, stouthearted , care ,

Usage: 598

with wisdom

H2451

חכמה
Chokmah

wisdom, wisely, skilful man, wits

Usage: 149

and to lay hold

H270

אחז
'achaz

hold, take, possess, caught, fastened,

Usage: 66

on folly

H5531

שׂכלוּת סכלוּת
Cikluwth

folly, foolishness

Usage: 7

till I might see

H7200

ראה
Ra'ah

see, look, behold, shew, appear, consider, seer, spy, respect, perceive, provide, regard, enjoy, lo, foreseeth, heed,

Usage: 1308

what was that good

H2896

טוב
Towb

good, better, well, goodness, goodly, best, merry, fair, prosperity, precious, fine, wealth, beautiful, fairer, favour, glad,

Usage: 553

for the sons

H1121

son, children, old, first, man, young, young , child, stranger, people,

Usage: 0

of men

H120

אדם
'adam

man, men, Adam, person, common sort , hypocrite

Usage: 541

which they should do

H6213

do, make, wrought, deal, commit, offer, execute, keep, shew, prepare, work, do so, perform, get, dress, maker, maintain,

Usage: 0

under the heaven

H8064

שׁמה שׁמים
Shamayim

heaven, air, astrologers

Usage: 420

all

H4557

מספּר
Micpar

number, few, all, innumerable, sum, time, account, abundance , infinite, innumerable , numbered, tale, telling,

Usage: 132

the days

H3117

יום
Yowm

day, time, chronicles , daily, ever, year, continually, when, as, while, full always, whole, alway,

Usage: 2293

References

Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 2:3

Verse Info

Bible Rank: 3598
Ecclesiastes Rank: 22
6 Topics
2 Themes
17 Cross References
2 Readings
Interlinear
7 Phrases
3 References

Context Readings

Qohelet's Investigation Of Self-Indulgence

² I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” ³ I explored with my mind how to let my body enjoy life with wine and how to grasp folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. ⁴ I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.