Ecclesiastes 2
Lutheran reading notes
In Ecclesiastes chapter 2, the wisdom literature continues to explore the meaning of life and reverence for God amid life's vanity. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.
1
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also {is} vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
I said of laughter, {It is} mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Ecclesiastes 2:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
I sought in mine heart to 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 all the days of their life. {to give...: Heb. to draw my flesh with wine} {all...: Heb. the number of the days of their life}
Ecclesiastes 2:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
Ecclesiastes 2:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all {kind of} fruits:
Ecclesiastes 2:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
Ecclesiastes 2:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
I got {me} servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: {servants born...: Heb. sons of my house}
Ecclesiastes 2:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
I gathered me also silver 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} musical instruments, and that of all sorts. {musical...: Heb. musical instrument and instruments}
Ecclesiastes 2:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Ecclesiastes 2:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And whatsoever 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 2:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
Then I 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 2:11 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what {can} the man {do} that cometh after the king? {even} that which hath been already done. {even...: or, in those things which have been already done}
Ecclesiastes 2:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. {that...: Heb. that there is an excellency in wisdom more than in folly, etc}
Ecclesiastes 2:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
The wise 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 2:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also {is} vanity. {happeneth even...: Heb. happeneth to me, even to me}
16
For {there 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 2:16 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun {is} grievous unto me: for all {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. {taken: Heb. laboured}
Ecclesiastes 2:18 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
And who 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 2:19 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:20 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
For there is a man whose labour {is} in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it {for} his portion. This also {is} vanity and a great evil. {leave: Heb. give}
Ecclesiastes 2:21 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 2:22 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
For all his days {are} sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:23 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
{There is} nothing better for a man, {than} that he should eat and drink, and {that} he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it {was} from the hand of God. {should make...: or, delight his senses}
Ecclesiastes 2:24 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
For who can eat, or who else can hasten {hereunto}, more than I?
Ecclesiastes 2:25 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
For {God} giveth to a man that {is} good in 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. {in his...: Heb. before him}
Ecclesiastes 2:26 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.