📖 Ecclesiastes — Chapter 2 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Ecclesiastes 2:1 I Rsaid in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter, RIt is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Ecclesiastes 2:3 I Rsought in mine heart Tto 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 Tall the days of their life.
Ecclesiastes 2:4 I Rmade me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and RI planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made me Rpools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
Ecclesiastes 2:7 I got me servants and maidens, Rand had Tservants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
Ecclesiastes 2:8 I gathered me also Rsilver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as Tmusical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Ecclesiastes 2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Ecclesiastes 2:10 And Rwhatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then RI 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.
Ecclesiastes 2:12 And RI turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? Teven that which hath been already done.
Ecclesiastes 2:13 Then RI saw Tthat wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Ecclesiastes 2:14 The Rwise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Ecclesiastes 2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it Thappeneth even to me; Rand why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:16 For Rthere is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 Therefore RI hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2:18 Yea, RI hated all my labour which I had Ttaken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Ecclesiastes 2:19 And Rwho knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:21 For there is a man Rwhose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he Tleave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Ecclesiastes 2:22 For what Rhath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 2:23 For Rall his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is Rnothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he Tshould make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 2:25 For Rwho can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
Ecclesiastes 2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good RTin his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 2:1–9 — Testing pleasure and achievement
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Mirth, wine, buildings, gardens, possessions, and greatness are tested as sources of fulfillment. Enjoyment does not finally solve the search for lasting gain.
Key Truth: Do not confuse abundance with fulfillment.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “I said in mine ____ , Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, …” (Ecclesiastes 2:1)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 2:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “I ____ me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me …” (Ecclesiastes 2:4)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 2:4 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my ____ remained with me.” (Ecclesiastes 2:9)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 2:9 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 2:10–18 — Wisdom’s advantage cannot cancel death
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Wisdom surpasses folly like light surpasses darkness, yet both face death and fading remembrance. The worker must leave accumulated results behind.
Key Truth: Wisdom matters even amid mortality.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Then said I in my ____ , As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth …” (Ecclesiastes 2:15)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 2:15 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the ____ walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one …” (Ecclesiastes 2:14)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 2:14 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Yea, I ____ all my labour which I had taken under the sun: …” (Ecclesiastes 2:18)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 2:18 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 2:19–26 — Labor and enjoyment as gifts
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Uncertain successors and anxious toil expose the limits of control. Enjoying ordinary food, drink, and work is recognized as a gift from God.
Key Truth: Receive ordinary enjoyment gratefully.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a ____ ? yet shall he have rule over all my labour …” (Ecclesiastes 2:19)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 2:19 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Therefore I went about to cause my ____ to despair of all the labour which I took under …” (Ecclesiastes 2:20)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 2:20 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “For there is a man whose labour is in ____ , and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a …” (Ecclesiastes 2:21)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 2:21 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
1 Timothy 6:17 — Hope belongs in God, who gives things to enjoy.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What ordinary gift can you receive without trying to control its future?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does reviewing great achievements qualify their initial pleasure?
2. Does the shared event erase every distinction between wisdom and folly?
3. What uncertainty troubles the Preacher about his successor?
4. How does restless labour extend beyond the working day?
5. Where does the ability to enjoy good in labour come from?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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