So let’s go down and confuse their language. Then they will not understand each other.”
Ecclesiastes 2:1 - Easy To Read Version I said to myself, “I should have fun—I should enjoy everything the most I can.” But I learned that this is also useless. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition I SAID in my mind, Come now, I will prove you with mirth and test you with pleasure; so have a good time [enjoy pleasure]. But this also was vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)! [Luke 12:19, 20.] American Standard Version (1901) I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity. Common English Bible I said to myself, Come, I will make you experience pleasure; enjoy what is good! But this too was pointless! Catholic Public Domain Version I said in my heart: "I will go forth and overflow with delights, and I will enjoy good things." And I saw that this, too, is emptiness. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things. And I saw that this also was vanity. |
So let’s go down and confuse their language. Then they will not understand each other.”
Then the king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”
Those people think bad things will never happen to them.\par \{They say,\}\par “We will have fun and never be punished.”\par
A foolish person {\cf2\super [75]} says in his heart,\par “There is no God.”\par Foolish people do terrible, rotten things.\par Not even one of them does good.\par
Lord, I want to talk with you.\par I want to speak to you from my heart.\par I come before you to speak with you.\par
A person might be sad, even if he is laughing. And after the laughter, the sadness will still be there.
So young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young. Be happy! Do whatever your heart leads you to do. Do whatever you want. But remember that God will judge you for everything you do.
Anything my eyes saw and wanted, I got for myself. My mind was pleased with all the things I did. And this happiness was the reward for all my hard work.
I thought to myself, “The same thing that happens to a foolish person will also happen to me. So why have I tried so hard to become wise?” I said to myself, “Being wise is also useless.”
A wise person thinks about death,\par but a foolish person thinks only\par about having a good time.\par
So I decided it was more important to enjoy life. Why? Because the best thing people can do in this life {\cf2\super [34]} is to eat, drink, and enjoy life. At least that will help people enjoy the hard work God gave them to do during their life on earth.
“Look, \{you people want to live your own ways\}. You light your own fires and torches (lights). So, \{live your own way\}. But, you will be punished! You will fall into your fires and torches and you will be burned. I will make that happen.”
The Lord my Master helps me learn, and I have not turned against him. I will not stop following him.
Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’
Jesus said, “There was a rich man that always dressed in the finest clothes. He was so rich that he was able to enjoy all the best things every day.
He was sent to the place of death {\cf2\super [266]} and had much pain. The rich man saw Abraham far away with Lazarus in his arms.
Grace (kindness) and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Some of you say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money.” Listen! Think about this:
You rich people, listen! Cry and be very sad because much trouble will come to you.
Your life on earth was full of rich living. You pleased yourselves with everything you wanted. You made yourselves fat, \{like an animal ready\} for the day of slaughter. {\cf2\super [25]}