Ecclesiastes 2
Ecclesiastes 2 discusses Solomon’s attempts to find the meaning of life and happiness—and the results of those attempts. Based on the theme of “vanity,” it candidly presents various pursuits in life: pleasures, wisdom, hard labor, and possessions. The Teacher first unfolds the pursuit of pleasure (2:1–3), building and accumulating wealth (2:4–8), enjoying the wealth one has amassed (2:9–11), and reflections on wisdom and folly (2:12–17). Finally, it highlights toil and its outcomes (2:18–23) and the meaning of life as grace that comes from God (2:24–26).
1verseI said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity.
2verseI said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
3verseI searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
4verseI made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
5verseI made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
6verseI made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown.
7verseI bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem.
8verseI also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men: musical instruments of all sorts.
9verseSo I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
10verseWhatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.
11verseThen I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
12verseI turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly; for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
13verseThen I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
14verseThe wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
15verseThen I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
16verseFor of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory forever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
17verseSo I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
18verseI hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
19verseWho knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
20verseTherefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
21verseFor there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22verseFor what does a man have of all his labor and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?
23verseFor all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
24verseThere is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
25verseFor who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
26verseFor to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
The Limits of Pleasure, Accomplishment, and Wisdom
The Teacher explores pleasure, yet confesses that even enjoyment ultimately proves to be futile. Even after achieving many accomplishments and building up great wealth, none of it could provide lasting satisfaction. Pursuing wisdom also leads to the discovery that, in the face of death, the wise and the foolish end up as the same. It shows the limits of “vanity” (meaninglessness), revealing that all worldly success and effort ultimately fall outside human control.
A Turn in the Direction of Life – What God Gives
At the end of chapter 2 (2:24–26), the Teacher says that it is wise and meaningful for humans to labor within the limits God has allowed, and to eat, drink, and enjoy life. When one looks only at one’s own efforts and achievements, one feels limits and emptiness; but it emphasizes that one can taste the meaning of life only when enjoying the pleasures of everyday life within God’s providence and grace.
Meditation Points
- I reflect on where I’m finding the meaning of life.
- I think about the motives for pursuing possessions and accomplishments, as well as wisdom, and about how long-lasting the satisfaction they bring is.
- I meditate on whether I recognize that even small joys in daily life are God’s gifts and whether I take an attitude of gratitude.
Try Applying It to Myself
- I think about whether there has been a time when the accomplishments or possessions I built up unconsciously suddenly came to feel empty.
- I put into practice the effort to find gratitude and joy in the ordinary life God has allowed today.
- I pray that God’s will will be with my work and my everyday life, and I make a decision to live each day meaningfully.
