2I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure;^u enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. ²I said about laughter,^v “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?”

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Cross references

u Ec 7:4; 8:15; Lk 12:19
v Pr 14:13; Ec 7:3,6

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?”

NLTNew Living Translation

I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I said to myself, “Come! I will test pleasure to see whether it is worthwhile.” But look, “This also is vanity!” I said of laughter, “It is folly!” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

KJV 1900King James Version

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

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