The Vanity of Self-Indulgence

Ecclesiastes 2

1 I said a in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with b mirth; 1 therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, c this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter - "Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" 3 d I searched in my heart how 2 to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was e good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4 I made my works great, I built myself f houses, and planted myself vineyards. 5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made myself water pools from which to 3 water the growing trees of the grove. 7 I acquired male and female servants, and had 4 servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. 8 g I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and 5 musical instruments 6 of all kinds.

9 h So I became great and 7 excelled i more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;
And j this was my 8 reward from all my labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was k vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.

  1. Cross References
    Luke 12:19
    'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'
  2. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:13
    Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.
    Ecclesiastes 7:4
    The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
    Ecclesiastes 8:15
    So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.
  3. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:2
    "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
  4. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:17
    And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.
  5. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 3:12
    I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.
    Ecclesiastes 3:13
    And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor - it is the gift of God.
    Ecclesiastes 5:18
    Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
    Ecclesiastes 6:12
    For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?
  6. Cross References
    1 Kings 7:1 - 12
    But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.
  7. Cross References
    1 Kings 9:28
    And they went to Ophir, and acquired four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.
    1 Kings 10:10
    Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
    1 Kings 10:14
    The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold.
    1 Kings 10:21
    All King Solomon's drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.
  8. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:16
    I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.
  9. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 9:22
    So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
  10. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 3:22
    So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
    Ecclesiastes 5:18
    Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
    Ecclesiastes 9:9
    Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
  11. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:3
    What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?
    Ecclesiastes 1:14
    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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