1
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test joy; enjoy pleasure!” But behold, this also was vanity.
2
Of laughter I said, “It is madness,” and of joy, “What use is it?”
3
I searched within myself by refreshing my body with wine—while my mind still guided me with wisdom—and by laying hold of folly, until I might know what is good for the children of men to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
4
I undertook great works; I built houses for myself, and planted vineyards for myself;
5
I made gardens and parks for myself, and planted them with all kinds of fruit trees;
6
I made pools for myself, from which to water the young trees growing there.
7
I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves born in my house; I also had many cattle and sheep, more than anyone who had lived in Jerusalem before me.
8
I gathered for myself also silver and gold, and the treasures of kings and provinces. I got for myself singers, both men and women, and the delights of the children of men, namely many concubines.
9
So I became great, even greater than anyone who had lived in Jerusalem before me; and my wisdom remained with me.
10
I did not withhold from my eyes anything they desired, and I did not keep my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor. This was my reward for all my labor.
11
Then I considered all the works that my hands had done and the labor I had spent in doing them, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind; there was no profit under the sun.
12
Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.
13
And I saw that wisdom excels folly, as light excels darkness.
14
The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; yet I also knew that the same fate comes to them all.
15
Then I said in my heart, “As the fate of the fool, so will it be with me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also was vanity.
16
For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, any more than of the fool, because in the days to come all will have long been forgotten. And, alas, the wise man dies just like the fool!
17
Therefore I hated life, because I found grievous what is done under the sun, for everything is vanity and a striving after wind.
18
I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
19
And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will have control over all my labor in which I have toiled and used wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.
20
So I began to despair of all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun.
21
For there is a man who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, yet he must leave his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22
For what does a man gain from all his labor and from the striving of his heart with which he toils under the sun?
23
All his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation of heart; even at night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.
24
There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in his labor. I perceived that this also is from the hand of God.
25
For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment apart from Him?
26
For to the one who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and collecting, only to give it to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
🎭🍷🏗️ Summary of Ecclesiastes 2 – Enjoying Life, Building Much, Yet Still Vain Without God
In this chapter, Solomon tests every form of worldly pleasure: laughter, wine, great works, possessions, and wisdom. He lives a life of extraordinary wealth and splendor — yet still concludes: all is vanity without God. Ecclesiastes 2 is the honest record of a man who had everything, yet whose heart remained empty.
📌 1. Testing the Pleasures of Life: Laughter, Wine, and Delight (verses 1–3)
“Come now, I will test pleasure and enjoy delight…”
- Laughter → vanity
- Wine → temporary comfort
- The search for pleasure does not bring true meaning
🎯 Pleasure comforts for a moment — but it does not answer the emptiness of the heart.
📌 2. Great Projects & Wealth (verses 4–8)
“I built houses… planted vineyards… gathered gold and silver…”
- Solomon built gardens, palaces, and assembled collections of art and music
- He became “the most successful man in Jerusalem”
- Yet he still felt empty
🎯 Outward achievements do not fill inward emptiness.
📌 3. Achievement = Temporary Pleasure (verses 9–11)
“I became great… whatever my eyes desired I did not withhold…”
“Yet… all was vanity and a striving after wind.”
🎯 Even when he “enjoyed the fruit of his hard work” → he still found no lasting meaning.
📌 4. Wisdom Is Better Than Folly, Yet Still Ends in Death (verses 12–17)
“The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness…”
But…
“The same fate comes upon them all.”
🎯 Death makes even worldly wisdom seem vain.
📌 5. All the Fruit of Labor Will Be Inherited (verses 18–23)
“I hated all my labor… because I must leave it to another.”
- The heir may be wise, or he may be foolish
- The hard worker suffers, but the results may be enjoyed by others
🎯 Life without God makes even hard work seem tragic.
📌 6. Conclusion: The Only Thing That Is Not Vain (verses 24–26)
“There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in his labor.”
“This also is from the hand of God.”
🎯 The meaning of life appears only if God is at its center.
📖 Main Teaching
- Pleasure, wealth, and success are not the lasting answer
- Without God, everything will feel like “chasing the wind”
- Wisdom is better than folly, but death makes all things equal
- True meaning is found when we realize that all good things come from God
- Enjoying life is good — if it is done in the fear of the Lord
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“A person’s life does not depend on his wealth…”
“Work, not for the food that perishes…”
“God gives us all things to enjoy.”
“Whatever you do, do it with all your heart… for the Lord.”
🎯 True satisfaction is found only when every aspect of life — work, pleasure, possessions — is offered to God.
🕊️ “Everything is vanity and a striving after wind.” – Ecclesiastes 2:11
🕊️ “I hated life…” – Ecclesiastes 2:17
🕊️ “There is nothing better… than to enjoy the fruit of one’s labor.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24
🕊️ “This too is from the hand of God.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24
