Parallel Verses
Amplified
I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
New American Standard Bible
King James Version
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Holman Bible
I said about laughter,
International Standard Version
"Senseless," said I concerning laughter and pleasure, "How practical is this?"
A Conservative Version
I said of laughter, It is mad, and of mirth, What does it do?
American Standard Version
I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?
Bible in Basic English
Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy--What use is it?
Darby Translation
I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it?
Julia Smith Translation
To laughter I said, It is mad: and to gladness, What did this?
King James 2000
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What use is it?
Lexham Expanded Bible
I said of laughter, "[It is] folly!" and of pleasure, "{What does it accomplish?}"
Modern King James verseion
I said of laughter, It is madness; and of mirth, What does it do?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
insomuch that I said unto laughter, "Thou art mad," and to mirth, "What doest thou?"
NET Bible
I said of partying, "It is folly," and of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!"
New Heart English Bible
I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
The Emphasized Bible
Of laughter, I said, Madness! and, of mirth, What can it do?
Webster
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
World English Bible
I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
Youngs Literal Translation
Of laughter I said, 'Foolish!' and of mirth, 'What is this it is doing?'
Interlinear
References
Fausets
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 2:2
Verse Info
Context Readings
Qohelet's Investigation Of Self-Indulgence
1
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).
Cross References
Proverbs 14:13
Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.
Ecclesiastes 7:2-6
It is better to go to the house of mourning
Than to go to the house of feasting,
For that [day of death] is the end of every man,
And the living will take it to heart and solemnly ponder its meaning.
Isaiah 22:12-13
Therefore in that day the Lord God of hosts called you to weeping, to mourning,
To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth [in humiliation].
Amos 6:3-6
Do you put off the day of punishment,
Yet cause the seat of violence to come near?
1 Peter 4:2-4
so that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living for human appetites and desires, but [lives] for the will and purpose of God.