Ecclesiastes 2:3

Contemporary English Version (Anglicised) 2012

I wanted to find out what was best for us during the short time we have on this earth. So I decided to make myself happy with wine and find out what it means to be foolish, without really being foolish myself.

Cross References

Genesis 47:9

Jacob answered, “I have lived only a hundred and thirty years, and I have had to move from place to place. My parents and my grandparents also had to move from place to place. But they lived much longer, and their life was not as hard as mine.”

Job 14:14

Will we humans live again? I would gladly suffer and wait for my time.

Psalm 104:15

wine to cheer us up, olive oil for our skin, and grain for our health.

Proverbs 20:1

It isn't clever to get drunk! Drinking makes a fool of you and leads to fights.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

Then I decided to find out all I could about wisdom and foolishness. Soon I realized that this too was as senseless as chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

Eating and drinking make you feel happy, and bribes can buy everything you need.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about.

Ecclesiastes 2:24

The best thing we can do is to enjoy eating, drinking, and working. I believe these are God's gifts to us,

Ecclesiastes 5:18

What is the best thing to do in the short life that God has given us? I think we should enjoy eating, drinking, and working hard. This is what God intends us to do.

Ecclesiastes 6:12

Life is short and meaningless, and it fades away like a shadow. Who knows what is best for us? Who knows what will happen after we are gone?

Ecclesiastes 7:18

Keep to the middle of the road. You can do this if you truly respect God.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

So I decided to learn everything I could and become wise enough to discover what life is all about. At the same time, I wanted to understand why it's stupid and senseless to be an evil fool.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

So I think we should get as much out of life as we possibly can. There is nothing better than to enjoy our food and drink and to have a good time. Then we can make it through this troublesome life that God has given us here on earth.

Matthew 6:24

You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Ephesians 5:18

Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life.

Judges 9:13

But the grapevine replied, “My wine brings cheer to people and gods. I won't stop making wine, just so my branches can wave above the other trees.”

1 Samuel 25:36

Abigail went back home and found Nabal throwing a party fit for a king. He was very drunk and feeling good, so she didn't tell him anything that night.