Ecclesiastes 2:1

English Standard VersionOther versions

English

2I ^xsaid in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.¹

1The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26 (see note on )

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.

I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile.

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.

I said to myself, “Come! I will test pleasure to see whether it is worthwhile.” But look, “This also is vanity!”

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

Public Domain