Ecclesiastes 2:3
I sought in my heart to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my 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.
Treasury of Scripture

sought

Ecclesiastes 1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

1 Samuel 25:36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him...

give myself unto wine or draw myself with wine

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 31:4,5 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink...

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

and to lay

Ecclesiastes 7:18 It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand...

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29-35 Who has woe? who has sorrow? who has contentions? who has babbling? who has wounds without cause? who has redness of eyes...

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one...

2 Corinthians 6:15-17 And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that believes with an infidel...

till

Ecclesiastes 6:12 For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow?...

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

all

Genesis 47:9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years...

Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Psalm 90:9-12 For all our days are passed away in your wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told...



Context
The Futility of Pleasures

1I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What does it? 3I sought in my heart to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my 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. 4I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that brings forth trees: 7I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 10And whatever my eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor. 11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had worked, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Parallel Verses
American Standard Version
I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.


Douay-Rheims Bible
I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.


Darby Bible Translation
I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.


King James Bible
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.


Young's Literal Translation
I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite, (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly till that I see where is this -- the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives.


Ecclesiastes 2:2
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