³I also explored^e the effects of indulging my flesh^f with wine. My mind guiding me with wisdom, I investigated^g folly so that I might discover what is good under heaven^h for humansⁱ to do during the days of their lives.^j

Qohelet’s Investigation of Personal Accomplishment

⁴I accomplished great things.^k I built for myself houses; I planted for myself vineyards. ⁵I made for myself gardens and parks, and I planted all sorts of fruit trees in them. ⁶I made for myself pools of water from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

eLiterally “I searched in my mind”
fLiterally “to cheer my flesh”
gLiterally “laid hold of”
hFollows MT; two medieval Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Peshitta read, “under the sun,” cf. 1:3, 9, etc.
iLiterally “the sons of the man”
jLiterally “the number of the days of their lives”
kLiterally “I made great my works”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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

I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.

NLTNew Living Translation

After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.

I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves.

KJV 1900King 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. I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

Public Domain