Thematic Bible
Ecclesiastes 2:1 (show verse)
I thought to myself, "Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile." But I found that it also is futile.
worldly Amusements and pleasures » The wicked seek for happiness in
Amusements and worldly pleasures » The wicked seek for happiness in
Emptiness » Emptiness or vanity of the worldly life (ps 3911; 629)
Epicureans » Worldly pleasure sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Happiness » Of the wicked » Is vain
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is vain
Pleasure, worldly » Results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Vanity » Worldly pleasure is
Vanity » Worldly pleasure
Worldly » Pleasure results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Amusements and worldly pleasures » The wicked seek for happiness in
Emptiness » Emptiness or vanity of the worldly life (ps 3911; 629)
Epicureans » Worldly pleasure sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Happiness » Of the wicked » Is vain
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is vain
Pleasure, worldly » Results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Vanity » Worldly pleasure is
Vanity » Worldly pleasure
Worldly » Pleasure results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Ecclesiastes 2:2 (show verse)
I said of partying, "It is folly," and of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!"
Ecclesiastes 2:3 (show verse)
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.
Ecclesiastes 2:4 (show verse)
I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.
Agriculture » Practiced by solomon
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Solomon » Builds his palace
Solomon » Builds another house for pharaoh's daughter
Solomon » Plants vineyards and orchards of all kinds of fruit trees; makes pools
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Vineyard » Pools in
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Solomon » Builds his palace
Solomon » Builds another house for pharaoh's daughter
Solomon » Plants vineyards and orchards of all kinds of fruit trees; makes pools
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Vineyard » Pools in
Ecclesiastes 2:5 (show verse)
I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
Agriculture » Operations in » Irrigation
Agriculture » Practiced by solomon
Botanical gardens » Park, probably
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Fruits » The produce of trees
Gardens » Kinds of, mentioned in scripture » Fruit trees
Solomon » Plants vineyards and orchards of all kinds of fruit trees; makes pools
Trees » Kinds of » Bearing fruit
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Agriculture » Practiced by solomon
Botanical gardens » Park, probably
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Fruits » The produce of trees
Gardens » Kinds of, mentioned in scripture » Fruit trees
Solomon » Plants vineyards and orchards of all kinds of fruit trees; makes pools
Trees » Kinds of » Bearing fruit
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Ecclesiastes 2:6 (show verse)
I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.
Agriculture » Practiced by solomon
Botanical gardens » Park, probably
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Gardens » Kinds of, mentioned in scripture » Fruit trees
Pools and ponds » Artificial, designed for » Supplying gardens, &c with water
Solomon » Plants vineyards and orchards of all kinds of fruit trees; makes pools
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Vineyard » Pools in
Wells » Of solomon
Botanical gardens » Park, probably
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Gardens » Kinds of, mentioned in scripture » Fruit trees
Pools and ponds » Artificial, designed for » Supplying gardens, &c with water
Solomon » Plants vineyards and orchards of all kinds of fruit trees; makes pools
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Vineyard » Pools in
Wells » Of solomon
Ecclesiastes 2:7 (show verse)
I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock -- both herds and flocks -- than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 2:8 (show verse)
I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight -- a harem of beautiful concubines!
worldly Amusements and pleasures » The wicked seek for happiness in
Amusements and worldly pleasures » The wicked seek for happiness in
ancient Choirs » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Gold » Vanity of heaping up
Music » ancient Choirs » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Music » Vanity of all unsanctified
Music » Designed to promote joy
Music » Instruments of » Made by solomon
Music » Instruments of » Great diversity of
Silver » Abundance of
Singers » ancient Choirs » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Singing » ancient Choirs » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Solomon » Musicians and musical instruments of his court
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Worship » Choirs assist in » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Amusements and worldly pleasures » The wicked seek for happiness in
ancient Choirs » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Gold » Vanity of heaping up
Music » ancient Choirs » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Music » Vanity of all unsanctified
Music » Designed to promote joy
Music » Instruments of » Made by solomon
Music » Instruments of » Great diversity of
Silver » Abundance of
Singers » ancient Choirs » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Singing » ancient Choirs » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Solomon » Musicians and musical instruments of his court
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Worship » Choirs assist in » A militant choir, songs lead to victory
Ecclesiastes 2:9 (show verse)
So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:
Ecclesiastes 2:10 (show verse)
I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
Earthly » Joy joy » Joy, earthly
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Joy » Earthly » Enjoyment sought
Joy » Earthly » General references to
Joy » Of the wicked
Joy » Of the wicked » Is derived from earthly pleasures
Joy » Vanity of seeking, from earthly things
Music » Designed to promote joy
Self-indulgence » Instances of » Solomon
Sinners » Disowned » Joy of, brief
Vanity » Worldly enjoyment is
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Epicureans » Doctrines propagated by, familiar to solomon
Joy » Earthly » Enjoyment sought
Joy » Earthly » General references to
Joy » Of the wicked
Joy » Of the wicked » Is derived from earthly pleasures
Joy » Vanity of seeking, from earthly things
Music » Designed to promote joy
Self-indulgence » Instances of » Solomon
Sinners » Disowned » Joy of, brief
Vanity » Worldly enjoyment is
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Ecclesiastes 2:11 (show verse)
Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: "All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless -- like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth."
worldly Amusements and pleasures » Are all vanity
Amusements and worldly pleasures » Vain
Dissatisfaction » With the sinful life
Gold » Vanity of heaping up
Labour » fields of activity » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Music » Vanity of all unsanctified
Toil » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Vanity » Worldly enjoyment is
Vanity » Worldly labor is
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Worldliness » Seen in the tendency to imitate worldly customs, etc » Unprofitable
Worldly » Labour » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Amusements and worldly pleasures » Vain
Dissatisfaction » With the sinful life
Gold » Vanity of heaping up
Labour » fields of activity » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Music » Vanity of all unsanctified
Toil » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Vanity » Worldly enjoyment is
Vanity » Worldly labor is
Vanity » Worldly possessions
Worldliness » Seen in the tendency to imitate worldly customs, etc » Unprofitable
Worldly » Labour » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Ecclesiastes 2:12 (show verse)
Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?
Ecclesiastes 2:13 (show verse)
I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:
Ecclesiastes 2:14 (show verse)
The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.
Ecclesiastes 2:15 (show verse)
So I thought to myself, "The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So I lamented to myself, "The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!"
Ecclesiastes 2:16 (show verse)
For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies -- just like the fool!
No Themes for this verse.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 (show verse)
So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile -- like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:18 (show verse)
So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.
Ecclesiastes 2:19 (show verse)
Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!
No Themes for this verse.
Ecclesiastes 2:20 (show verse)
So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.
Ecclesiastes 2:21 (show verse)
For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!
Ecclesiastes 2:22 (show verse)
What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?
Ecclesiastes 2:23 (show verse)
For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!
Ecclesiastes 2:24 (show verse)
There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.
Epicureans » Worldly pleasure sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Goodness » Good people
Happiness/joy » Who God gives joy to
Knowledge » Who God gives knowledge to
Pleasure, worldly » Results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Wisdom » The lord giving wisdom
Wisdom » Who God gives wisdom to
Worldly » Pleasure results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Goodness » Good people
Happiness/joy » Who God gives joy to
Knowledge » Who God gives knowledge to
Pleasure, worldly » Results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Wisdom » The lord giving wisdom
Wisdom » Who God gives wisdom to
Worldly » Pleasure results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Ecclesiastes 2:25 (show verse)
For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.
Ecclesiastes 2:26 (show verse)
For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth -- only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile -- like chasing the wind!
Accumulation of wealth » The accumulation of, disappointing
Care » Worldly folly of » The sinners' portion
Gifts » From God » According to the character of men
the Gifts of God » Are dispensed according to his will
God's Promises » Of spiritual gifts » Of wisdom
Goodness » Good people
Happiness/joy » Who God gives joy to
Joy » God gives
Knowledge » Who God gives knowledge to
Profit and loss » Loss » The wages of sin do not profit
Riches » The wicked » Heap up
earthly Riches » The perils of » Fleeting and uncertain
earthly Riches » The perils of » The accumulation of, disappointing
Sin » Unpardonable, the » Wages of
Vanity » Heaping up riches is
Wealth » Accumulation of » The accumulation of, disappointing
Wisdom » The lord giving wisdom
Wisdom » True wisdom, general references to » Promised
Wisdom » Who God gives wisdom to
Worldly » Care, folly of » The sinners' portion
Care » Worldly folly of » The sinners' portion
Gifts » From God » According to the character of men
the Gifts of God » Are dispensed according to his will
God's Promises » Of spiritual gifts » Of wisdom
Goodness » Good people
Happiness/joy » Who God gives joy to
Joy » God gives
Knowledge » Who God gives knowledge to
Profit and loss » Loss » The wages of sin do not profit
Riches » The wicked » Heap up
earthly Riches » The perils of » Fleeting and uncertain
earthly Riches » The perils of » The accumulation of, disappointing
Sin » Unpardonable, the » Wages of
Vanity » Heaping up riches is
Wealth » Accumulation of » The accumulation of, disappointing
Wisdom » The lord giving wisdom
Wisdom » True wisdom, general references to » Promised
Wisdom » Who God gives wisdom to
Worldly » Care, folly of » The sinners' portion