Ecclesiastes 2:1
Modern Translations
New International Version
I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless.

New Living Translation
I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless.

English Standard Version
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.

Berean Study Bible
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.

New American Standard Bible
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility.

NASB 1995
I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility.

NASB 1977
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility.

Amplified Bible
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure and gratification; so enjoy yourself and have a good time.” But behold, this too was vanity (futility, meaninglessness).

Christian Standard Bible
I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I said to myself, "Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good." But it turned out to be futile.

Contemporary English Version
I said to myself, "Have fun and enjoy yourself!" But this didn't make sense.

Good News Translation
I decided to enjoy myself and find out what happiness is. But I found that this is useless, too.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I thought to myself, "Now I want to experiment with pleasure and enjoy myself." But even this was pointless.

International Standard Version
I told myself, "I will test you with pleasure, so enjoy yourself." But this was pointless.

NET Bible
I thought to myself, "Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile." But I found that it also is futile.
Classic Translations
King James Bible
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

New King James Version
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity.

King James 2000 Bible
I said in my heart, Come now, I will test you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

New Heart English Bible
I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure;" and look, this also was vanity.

World English Bible
I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure;" and behold, this also was vanity.

American King James Version
I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

American Standard Version
I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.

A Faithful Version
I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." and, behold, this also is vanity.

Darby Bible Translation
I said in my heart, Come now, I will try thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. But behold, this also is vanity.

English Revised Version
I SAID in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.

Webster's Bible Translation
I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and behold, this also is vanity.

Early Modern
Geneva Bible of 1587
I said in mine heart, Goe to nowe, I will proue thee with ioy: therefore take thou pleasure in pleasant things: and beholde, this also is vanitie.

Bishops' Bible of 1568
Then sayde I thus in my heart: Nowe go to, I will take myne ease, and haue good dayes: But lo, that is vanitie also.

Coverdale Bible of 1535
The sayde I thus in my hert: Now go to, I wil take myne ease & haue good dayes. But lo, that was vanite also:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I said in my heart, “Pray, come, I try you with mirth, and look on gladness”; and behold, even it [is] vanity.

Young's Literal Translation
I said in my heart, 'Pray, come, I try thee with mirth, and look thou on gladness;' and lo, even it is vanity.

Smith's Literal Translation
I said in my heart, Go now, I will prove thee with gladness, and look thou upon good: and behold, this also vanity.

Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things. And I saw that this also was vanity.

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.

Translations from Aramaic
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I said I to my heart: come, "prove yourself with joy and see good", and, behold , this also is futility

Lamsa Bible
I SAID to my heart, Come now, I will prove you with joy; therefore enjoy good things; and, behold, this also is vanity.

OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I said in my heart: 'Come now, I will try thee with mirth, and enjoy pleasure'; and, behold, this also was vanity.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, and behold thou good: and, behold, this is also vanity.
















Ecclesiastes 1:18
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