I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. Version. The Old Testament consists of 39 books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, … and show everyone how stupid they are. 1 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Ecclesiastes 2:11 NLT But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 3:2 A time to be born and a time to die. (X) 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. Ecclesiastes 2:24 NLT So go ahead. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. Ecclesiastes 8 Keep the King's Command. 2:2 It is mad - This is an act of madness, more fit for fools who know nothing, than for wise men in this sinful, and dangerous, and deplorable state of mankind. New Living Translation / Ecclesiastes / Ecclesiastes 2; Share Tweet. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 21 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. Ecclesiastes 2:15, NASB: "Then I said to myself, 'As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Or how can it make men happy? One cannot find the right time to act (Ecclesiastes 3:1–4:6) 3. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. 2 A time to be born and a time to die. 22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. But I found that this, too, was meaningless. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 7 Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. People are to accept each day as a gift from the hand of God (2:24–26). What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. 2nd edition.Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House, 2004. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 2 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. 2 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. It is all meaningless. A "Note to Readers" in the second edition explains that the main purpose of the revision was "increasing the level of the NLT… Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. Select a book and a passage below. 24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. He had begun well. 2 So I said, “Laughter is silly. 2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure(A) to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. Why? The pursuit of pleasure tested – and found lacking. 21 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. New Living Translation; Ecclesiastes 1 Ecclesiastes 1. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. 2:1 I said - Being disappointed of my hopes from knowledge, I resolved to try another course. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 2 So I said, “Laughter is silly. In the days to come, both will be forgotten. A Time for Everything. Ecclesiastes 3:1-22, NLT. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. Ecclesiastes 3. 14 For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate. I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. Numbers 28:16,17 clearly teaches that the seven days of unleavened bread FOLLOWED the day of Passover. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 2 - CBN Bible. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. Ecclesiastes 4. (AG) 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom,(AH) knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth(AI) to hand it over to the one who pleases God. In the days to come, both will be forgotten. [b] 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. 2 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. 4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself(E) and planted vineyards. (Z) Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. (I) I acquired male and female singers,(J) and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 15 Both will die. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain cl... Read verse in New Living Translation 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;    I refused my heart no pleasure.My heart took delight in all my labor,    and this was the reward for all my toil.11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done    and what I had toiled to achieve,everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;(M)    nothing was gained under the sun. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I … Note particularly 2:24-26; 3:11-14,22; 5:18-20; 8:15; 9:7-10; 11:7-- 12:1; 12:9-14 (see also any pertinent notes on these passages). While still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. NLT perverts Acts 12:4! Ecclesiastes 4. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. Proverbs 31 Ecclesiastes 2 Ecclesiastes 1 New Living Translation (NLT) 1 These are the words of the Teacher,[ a] King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem. 2 So I said, "Laughter is silly. 22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 21 For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. 20 Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. Ecclesiastes 2:15, NLT: "Both will die. Ecclesiastes 2 1 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. 1 For everything there is a season,. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Watch our overview video on the book of Ecclesiastes, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. All rights reserved. All rights reserved worldwide. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness. Acts 12:2 in the KJB tells us that the days of unleavened bread were already being observed, which means that the day of Passover was OVER! Investigation of Pleasure-Seeking (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11) C. Investigation of Wisdom and Folly (Ecclesiastes 2:12–17) D. Investigation of Labor and Rewards (Ecclesiastes 2:18–6:9) 1. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. It meanders, with jumps and starts, through the general messiness of human experience, to which it is a response. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. (P)13 I saw that wisdom(Q) is better than folly,(R)    just as light is better than darkness.14 The wise have eyes in their heads,    while the fool walks in the darkness;but I came to realize    that the same fate overtakes them both. Cancel. 1 a As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. The translation is true to the original Greek meaning. I denied myself no pleasure. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. It is all meaningless. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. 17 So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. 17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. Ecclesiastes 4:1-16, NLT. Ecclesiastes 1 - nlt. 19 And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? See how your favorite verses read in the New Living Translation. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. Previous Passage: Proverbs 31 (nlt) Next Passage: Ecclesiastes 2 (nlt) DRB: I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath of God. I went about - i. e., I turned from one course of action to another. 19 For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe # 3:19 Or both have the same spirit. 3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Hebrews 7 - This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. Third, Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 serves as a bridge between the first two chapters and the section that follows. New Living Translation Ecclesiastes 2:3. Ecclesiastes 2:1 Parallel Commentaries There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. Based on the Second Edition of the NLT, this commentary is the natural extension of both exegetically accurate and idiomatically powerful. 4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge ho… New Living Translation, second edition (2004) Mark R. Norton, ed., Holy Bible, New Living Translation. A time to plant and a time to harvest. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. Ecclesiastes 8:2 I counsel you to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 Everything Is Meaningless 1 The words of the Teacher, 1:1 Or the leader of the assembly ; also in verses 2 and 12 son of David, king in Jerusalem: Ecclesiastes 2 – Life In View Of Death A. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. Bible > NLT > Ecclesiastes 2 Ecclesiastes 2 New Living Translation: Par The Futility of Pleasure. I had everything a man could desire! 18 I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. 1 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Bible Gateway Plus puts a library of commentaries and Greek & Hebrew language tools right in your pocket. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. I denied myself no pleasure. Ecclesiastes 2:23. (Y) 19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? 18 I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. Ecclesiastes 4:1-16, NLT. (O)What more can the king’s successor do    than what has already been done?