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  • Ecclesiastes 2
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Ecclesiastes Outline

      • Solomon’s pursuits evaluated (1-11)

      • Relative value of human wisdom (12-16)

      • The futility of hard work (17-23)

      • Eat, drink, and enjoy work (24-26)

Ecclesiastes 2:1

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “rejoicing.”

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 209

    Awake!,

    4/2006, p. 6

    The Watchtower,

    3/15/1997, pp. 14-15

    9/1/1977, pp. 521-522

    1/15/1977, p. 58

  • Publications Index

    it-2 209; g 4/06 6; w97 3/15 14-15;

    w77 58; w77 521; ad 1033

Ecclesiastes 2:2

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “rejoicing.”

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, pp. 209, 292

    The Watchtower,

    11/1/2006, p. 13

    3/15/1997, pp. 14-15

    9/15/1987, p. 24

    9/1/1977, pp. 521-522

    1/15/1977, p. 58

    Awake!,

    4/22/1978, p. 28

  • Publications Index

    it-2 209, 292; w06 11/1 13; w97 3/15 14-15; w87 9/15 24;

    g78 4/22 28; w77 58; w77 521-522; ad 1033

Ecclesiastes 2:3

Marginal References

  • +Ps 104:15; Ec 10:19

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Awake!,

    8/22/1979, p. 7

    The Watchtower,

    1/15/1977, p. 58

  • Publications Index

    g79 8/22 7; w77 58

Ecclesiastes 2:4

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 9:17-19; 2Ch 9:15, 16
  • +1Ki 7:1, 8
  • +1Ki 4:25; Ca 8:11

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    1/15/1977, pp. 58-59

  • Publications Index

    w77 58-59

Ecclesiastes 2:5

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    1/15/1977, pp. 58-59

    2/1/1959, pp. 76-77

  • Publications Index

    w77 58-59; w59 76

Ecclesiastes 2:6

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “forest.”

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, pp. 40, 651

    The Watchtower,

    1/15/1977, pp. 58-59

    7/1/1954, pp. 400-402

  • Publications Index

    it-2 40, 651;

    w77 58-59; ad 289; w54 401

Ecclesiastes 2:7

Footnotes

  • *

    Lit., “sons of the house.”

Marginal References

  • +1Sa 8:10, 13; 1Ki 9:22
  • +1Ki 4:22, 23

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    1/15/1977, pp. 58-59

  • Publications Index

    w77 58-59

Ecclesiastes 2:8

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “property peculiar to.”

  • *

    Or “a lady, yes, ladies.”

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 9:14, 28; 10:10; 2Ch 1:15
  • +1Ki 10:14, 15; 2Ch 9:13, 14

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    3/15/2011, p. 7

    1/15/1977, pp. 58-59

    Awake!,

    8/22/1979, p. 7

  • Publications Index

    w11 3/15 7;

    g79 8/22 7; w77 58-59

Ecclesiastes 2:9

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 3:13; 10:23

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    1/15/1977, pp. 58-59

  • Publications Index

    w77 58-59

Ecclesiastes 2:10

Footnotes

  • *

    Lit., “that my eyes asked for.”

  • *

    Or “rejoicing.”

  • *

    Or “portion.”

Marginal References

  • +Ec 11:9
  • +Ec 3:22; 5:18; 9:9

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    10/15/1997, pp. 3-4

    3/1/1980, p. 26

    1/15/1977, pp. 58-59

    11/15/1957, pp. 690-692

    Awake!,

    8/22/1979, pp. 7-8

    4/22/1977, pp. 10-11

  • Publications Index

    w97 10/15 3-4;

    w80 3/1 26; g79 8/22 7-8; w77 58-59; g77 4/22 10-11; w57 691

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “of advantage.”

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 7:1
  • +Ps 49:10; Ec 1:14; 2:16; 1Ti 6:7
  • +Ec 1:3; 2:17

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    4/15/2008, p. 21

    10/15/1997, p. 4

    2/15/1997, p. 14

    7/1/1986, pp. 14-15

    1/15/1977, p. 59

    8/15/1966, pp. 483-484

    11/15/1957, pp. 690-692

    1/1/1952, pp. 3-4

    Awake!,

    8/22/1979, p. 8

    4/22/1978, p. 28

    7/22/1977, pp. 3-4

    4/22/1977, pp. 10-11

  • Publications Index

    w08 4/15 21; w97 2/15 14; w97 10/15 4; w86 7/1 14-15;

    g79 8/22 8; g78 4/22 28; w77 59; g77 4/22 10-11; g77 7/22 3-4; w66 483; w57 691; w52 3

Ecclesiastes 2:12

Marginal References

  • +Ec 1:17; 7:25

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Awake!,

    8/22/1979, pp. 7-8

    4/22/1978, p. 28

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, p. 78

    1/1/1952, pp. 3-4

  • Publications Index

    g79 8/22 7-8; g78 4/22 28; w77 78; w52 3

Ecclesiastes 2:13

Marginal References

  • +Pr 4:7; Ec 7:11, 12

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, p. 78

  • Publications Index

    w77 78

Ecclesiastes 2:14

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “has his eyes open.”

  • *

    Or “eventuality.”

Marginal References

  • +Pr 4:25
  • +Pr 14:8; 17:24; Joh 3:19; 1Jo 2:11
  • +Ec 3:19, 20; 9:2, 3, 11

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 1051

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 1192

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, pp. 78-79

    3/1/1959, p. 151

    Awake!,

    9/8/1972, p. 27

  • Publications Index

    it-1 1051; it-2 1192;

    w77 78-79; g72 9/8 27; ad 1662; g66 4/8 3; w59 151; w33 314; pp 218

Ecclesiastes 2:15

Marginal References

  • +Ps 49:10

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, pp. 78-79

    3/1/1959, p. 151

    Awake!,

    4/22/1977, p. 11

  • Publications Index

    w77 78; g77 4/22 11; w59 151

Ecclesiastes 2:16

Marginal References

  • +Ex 1:8; Ec 1:11
  • +Ec 6:8; Ro 5:12

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, pp. 78-79

    3/1/1959, p. 151

    Awake!,

    4/22/1977, p. 11

  • Publications Index

    w77 78-79; g77 4/22 11; w59 151

Ecclesiastes 2:17

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 19:2, 4; Jer 20:17, 18
  • +Job 7:6; Ec 2:21; Ro 8:20
  • +Ec 1:14; 5:16

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 250

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, p. 79

    8/15/1973, pp. 490-491

    11/15/1957, pp. 695-697

  • Publications Index

    it-2 250;

    w77 79; w73 490; ad 1064; w57 696

Ecclesiastes 2:18

Marginal References

  • +Ec 2:4-8
  • +Ps 39:6; Lu 12:20

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, p. 79

    8/15/1973, pp. 490-491

    11/15/1957, pp. 695-697

  • Publications Index

    w77 79; w73 490; w57 696

Ecclesiastes 2:19

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 12:6, 8; 2Ch 12:1, 9

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, p. 79

    8/15/1973, pp. 490-491

    11/15/1957, pp. 695-697

  • Publications Index

    w77 79; w73 490; w57 696

Ecclesiastes 2:20

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, p. 79

    11/15/1957, pp. 695-697

  • Publications Index

    w77 79; w57 696

Ecclesiastes 2:21

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “hand over everything.”

  • *

    Or “calamity.”

Marginal References

  • +Ec 2:18; 5:15, 16

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/1/2004, p. 27

    2/1/1977, p. 79

    10/15/1973, p. 640

    11/15/1957, pp. 695-697

  • Publications Index

    w04 9/1 27;

    w77 79; w73 640; w57 696

Ecclesiastes 2:22

Footnotes

  • *

    Lit., “and the striving of his heart.”

Marginal References

  • +Ec 1:3; 3:9

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, p. 79

    9/1/1965, pp. 520-522

  • Publications Index

    w77 79; w65 521

Ecclesiastes 2:23

Marginal References

  • +Job 14:1, 2; Lu 12:29
  • +Ge 31:40, 41

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, p. 79

    9/1/1965, pp. 520-522

  • Publications Index

    w77 79; w65 521

Ecclesiastes 2:24

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “cause his soul to see good.”

Marginal References

  • +De 12:18; Ec 3:22; 8:15; Ac 14:17
  • +Ec 3:12, 13; 5:18, 19

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Enjoy Life Forever!, lesson 37

    Awake!,

    10/2014, p. 6

    12/22/1997, p. 11

    8/22/1979, p. 8

    7/22/1973, p. 25

    The Watchtower,

    7/1/2011, p. 7

    9/15/1987, p. 24

    2/1/1977, p. 79

    3/15/1974, p. 167

    8/15/1972, p. 487

    4/1/1972, pp. 205-206

    11/15/1957, pp. 690-692

  • Publications Index

    lff lesson 37; g 10/14 6; w11 7/1 7; g97 12/22 11; w87 9/15 24;

    g79 8/22 8; w77 79; w74 167; g73 7/22 25; w72 206, 487; g62 12/8 22; w57 691

Ecclesiastes 2:25

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 4:7, 22, 23; 10:4, 5, 21

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/1/1977, p. 79

    11/15/1957, pp. 690-692

  • Publications Index

    w77 79; w57 691

Ecclesiastes 2:26

Marginal References

  • +1Sa 18:14; Pr 3:32, 33; Isa 3:10
  • +De 6:10, 11; Pr 13:22; 28:8

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1977, pp. 121-122

    7/1/1965, pp. 410-411

  • Publications Index

    w77 121-122; w65 411

Parallel Translations

Click a verse number to display parallel Bible verses.

General

Eccl. 2:3Ps 104:15; Ec 10:19
Eccl. 2:41Ki 9:17-19; 2Ch 9:15, 16
Eccl. 2:41Ki 7:1, 8
Eccl. 2:41Ki 4:25; Ca 8:11
Eccl. 2:71Sa 8:10, 13; 1Ki 9:22
Eccl. 2:71Ki 4:22, 23
Eccl. 2:81Ki 9:14, 28; 10:10; 2Ch 1:15
Eccl. 2:81Ki 10:14, 15; 2Ch 9:13, 14
Eccl. 2:91Ki 3:13; 10:23
Eccl. 2:10Ec 11:9
Eccl. 2:10Ec 3:22; 5:18; 9:9
Eccl. 2:111Ki 7:1
Eccl. 2:11Ps 49:10; Ec 1:14; 2:16; 1Ti 6:7
Eccl. 2:11Ec 1:3; 2:17
Eccl. 2:12Ec 1:17; 7:25
Eccl. 2:13Pr 4:7; Ec 7:11, 12
Eccl. 2:14Pr 4:25
Eccl. 2:14Pr 14:8; 17:24; Joh 3:19; 1Jo 2:11
Eccl. 2:14Ec 3:19, 20; 9:2, 3, 11
Eccl. 2:15Ps 49:10
Eccl. 2:16Ex 1:8; Ec 1:11
Eccl. 2:16Ec 6:8; Ro 5:12
Eccl. 2:171Ki 19:2, 4; Jer 20:17, 18
Eccl. 2:17Job 7:6; Ec 2:21; Ro 8:20
Eccl. 2:17Ec 1:14; 5:16
Eccl. 2:18Ec 2:4-8
Eccl. 2:18Ps 39:6; Lu 12:20
Eccl. 2:191Ki 12:6, 8; 2Ch 12:1, 9
Eccl. 2:21Ec 2:18; 5:15, 16
Eccl. 2:22Ec 1:3; 3:9
Eccl. 2:23Job 14:1, 2; Lu 12:29
Eccl. 2:23Ge 31:40, 41
Eccl. 2:24De 12:18; Ec 3:22; 8:15; Ac 14:17
Eccl. 2:24Ec 3:12, 13; 5:18, 19
Eccl. 2:251Ki 4:7, 22, 23; 10:4, 5, 21
Eccl. 2:261Sa 18:14; Pr 3:32, 33; Isa 3:10
Eccl. 2:26De 6:10, 11; Pr 13:22; 28:8
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New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Ecclesiastes

2 Then I said in my heart: “Come and let me try out pleasure* and see what good comes.” But look! that too was futility.

 2 I said about laughter, “It is madness!”

And about pleasure,* “What use is it?”

3 I explored with my heart by indulging myself with wine,+ all the while maintaining my own wisdom; I even embraced foolishness to find out what was the best thing for humans to do during their few days of life under the heavens. 4 I undertook great works.+ I built houses for myself;+ I planted vineyards for myself.+ 5 I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all sorts of fruit trees. 6 I made pools of water for myself, to irrigate a grove* of flourishing trees. 7 I acquired male and female servants,+ and I had servants born in my household.* I also acquired much livestock—cattle and flocks+—more than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem. 8 I accumulated silver and gold for myself,+ the treasures of* kings and of provinces.+ I gathered male and female singers for myself, as well as what brings great pleasure to the sons of men—a woman, yes, many women.* 9 So I grew great and surpassed anyone prior to me in Jerusalem.+ And my wisdom remained with me.

10 I did not deny myself anything that I desired.*+ I did not withhold from my heart any sort of pleasure,* for my heart was joyful because of all my hard work, and this was my reward* for all my hard work.+ 11 But when I reflected on all the works that my own hands had done and on all the hard work that I had toiled to accomplish,+ I saw that everything was futile, a chasing after the wind;+ there was nothing of real value* under the sun.+

12 Then I turned my attention to wisdom and 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 there is an advantage to wisdom over folly,+ just as there is an advantage to light over darkness.

14 The wise one has his eyes in his head;*+ but the stupid one is walking in darkness.+ I have also come to realize that there is one outcome* that befalls all of them.+ 15 Then I said in my heart: “What happens to the stupid one will also happen to me.”+ What, then, did I gain by becoming excessively wise? So I said in my heart: “This too is futility.” 16 For there is no lasting memory either of the wise one or of the stupid one.+ In the days to come, everyone will be forgotten. And how will the wise one die? Along with the stupid one.+

17 So I came to hate life,+ because everything being done under the sun seemed distressing to me, for everything was futile,+ a chasing after the wind.+ 18 I came to hate all that I had worked so hard for under the sun,+ because I must leave it behind for the man coming after me.+ 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish?+ Yet he will take control over all the things I spent great effort and wisdom to acquire under the sun. This too is futility. 20 So I began to despair in my heart over all the hard work at which I had toiled under the sun. 21 For a man may work hard, guided by wisdom and knowledge and skill, but he must hand over his portion* to a man who did not work for it.+ This too is futility and a great tragedy.*

22 What does a man really gain from all his hard work and ambition that drives him* to work hard under the sun?+ 23 For during all his days, his occupation brings pain and frustration,+ and even at night his heart does not rest.+ This too is futility.

24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and find enjoyment* in his hard work.+ This too, I have realized, is from the hand of the true God,+ 25 for who eats and who drinks better than I do?+

26 To the man who pleases him he gives wisdom and knowledge and rejoicing,+ but to the sinner he gives the occupation of gathering and merely collecting to give to the one who pleases the true God.+ This too is futility, a chasing after the wind.

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