Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

[1] I said  in mine heart,  I will prove  thee with mirth,  therefore enjoy  pleasure:  and, behold, this also is vanity.  [2] I said  of laughter,  It is mad:  and of mirth,  What  doeth  [3] 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.  [4] I made me great  works;  I builded  me houses;  I planted  me vineyards:  [5] I made  me gardens  and orchards,  and I planted  trees  in them of all kind of fruits:  [6] I made  me pools  of water,  to water  therewith the wood  that bringeth forth  trees:  [7] I 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: [8] I gathered  me also silver  and gold,  and the peculiar treasure  of kings  and of the provinces:  I gat  me men singers  and the delights  of the sons  of men,  as musical instruments,  and that of all sorts. [9] So I was great,  and increased  more than all that were before  me in Jerusalem:  also my wisdom  remained  with me. [10] And whatsoever mine eyes  desired  I kept  not from them, I withheld  not my heart  from any joy;  for my heart  in all my labour:  and this was my portion  of all my labour.  [11] Then I looked  on all the works  that my hands  had wrought,  and on the labour  that I had laboured  to do:  and, behold, all was vanity  and vexation  of spirit,  and there was no profit  under the sun. 

What does Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"After having proved that secular wisdom has no superiority to folly in bringing true happiness to Prayer of Manasseh , he [1] seeks his happiness in a different way, and gives himself up to cheerful enjoyment." [2]
"Solomon . . . decided to test his own heart to see how he would respond to two very common experiences of life: enjoyment (1-3) and employment (4-11)." [3]