Ecclesiastes 2:10-26 · BSB · Tamil Scripture

The Futility of Pleasure

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” Luk 12:19 Ecc 8:15 Jas 5:1 Jas 5:5 Psa 27:8 2Ki 5:5 Ecc 1:16-17 Ecc 11:9

But it proved to be futile.

I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” Pro 14:13 1Pe 4:2-4 Ecc 7:2-6 Amo 6:3-6 Isa 22:12-13

I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. Pro 20:1 Ecc 1:17 Ecc 12:13 Ecc 6:12 Eph 5:18 Gen 47:9 Pro 31:4-5 1Sa 25:36

I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 1Ki 7:1-12 1Ch 27:27 1Ki 10:19-20 1Ki 15:19 1Ki 9:1 2Ch 26:10 2Ch 8:1-6 2Ch 8:11 I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees. Gen 2:8-9 Jer 39:4 Luk 17:27-29 Sng 4:12 Sng 6:2 I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees. Neh 2:14 Jer 17:8 Psa 1:3 Sng 7:4

I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me, 1Ch 27:29-31 1Ki 4:23 1Ki 9:20-22 2Ch 26:10 2Ch 32:27-29 2Ki 3:4 Ezr 2:58 Gen 13:2 and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines. 1Ki 10:10 1Ki 9:28 2Sa 19:35 1Ki 10:14 1Ch 25:1 1Ch 25:6 1Ki 10:21 1Ki 14:21-22

So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me. 1Ch 29:25 Ecc 1:16 1Ki 10:23 2Ch 9:22-23 1Ki 10:7 1Ki 3:12 2Ch 1:1 Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Ecc 3:22 Ecc 5:18 Ecc 9:9 Psa 119:37 Psa 128:2 1Jn 2:16 Ecc 2:22 Ecc 11:9

Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecc 1:14 1Jn 2:16-17 Ecc 1:3 1Ti 6:6 Exo 39:43 Gen 1:31 Ecc 2:17-23 Hab 2:13

The Wise and the Foolish

Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished? Ecc 1:17 Ecc 7:25 Ecc 1:9-10 And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness: Eph 5:8 Ecc 7:11-12 Ecc 11:7 Mat 6:23 Luk 11:34-35 Mal 3:18 Psa 119:105 Ecc 7:19

The wise man has eyes in his head, Psa 49:10 Pro 17:24 Ecc 9:11 1Jn 2:11 Ecc 3:19 Ecc 9:1-3 Ecc 10:2-3 Ecc 6:6

but the fool walks in darkness.

Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both. So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” Ecc 6:8 Ecc 1:14 1Ki 3:12 Ecc 1:16 Ecc 1:18 Ecc 1:2 Ecc 2:16

And I said to myself that this too is futile.

For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool! Ecc 1:11 Ecc 9:5 Exo 1:8 Heb 9:27 Mal 3:16 Psa 88:12 2Sa 3:33 Ecc 2:14 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Ecc 2:11 Ecc 4:2 Jon 4:8 1Ki 19:4 Ecc 1:14 Ecc 2:22 Ecc 3:16 Ecc 6:9

The Futility of Work

I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. Psa 39:6 Psa 49:10 Luk 16:27-28 1Co 3:10 1Ki 11:11-13 Act 20:29-30 Ecc 1:13 Ecc 1:3 And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. Ecc 3:22 Jas 3:17 1Ki 12:14-20 1Ki 14:25-28 2Ch 10:13-16 2Ch 12:9-10 Ecc 9:13 Jas 1:17

So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun. 1Co 15:19 1Th 3:3-4 2Co 1:8-10 Gen 43:14 Job 17:11-15 Psa 39:6-7 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil. Ecc 2:17-18 2Ch 31:20-21 2Ch 33:2-9 2Ch 34:2 2Ch 35:18 2Ch 36:5-10 Ecc 9:18 Jer 22:15 For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun? Ecc 1:3 Psa 127:2 1Pe 5:7 1Ti 6:8 Ecc 3:9 Ecc 4:6 Mat 6:34 Php 4:6 Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile. Job 14:1 Job 5:7 Job 7:13-14 Psa 127:2 Psa 6:6-7 Act 14:22 Dan 6:18 Ecc 1:18

Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God. Ecc 3:22 Ecc 8:15 1Ti 6:17 Ecc 3:12-13 Ecc 5:18-19 Ecc 9:7-9 1Co 15:32 Deu 12:18 For apart from Him, ¹ who can eat and who can find enjoyment? Ecc 2:1-12 1Ki 4:21-24 To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Pro 13:22 Job 27:16-17 Pro 28:8 Isa 3:10-11 Jhn 16:24 2Ch 31:20-21 Col 3:16-17 Pro 3:13-18