Ecclesiastes 2:1

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

² I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

³ 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.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.
KJV: I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
WEB: I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity.
ASV: I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.
DARBY: I said in my heart, Come now, I will try thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. But behold, this also is vanity.
BLB: I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with gladness, and look on the good!” And behold, this also [is] vapor.

ÅB: Jeg sa til mitt hjerte: Vel, jeg vil prøve deg med glede; nyt det som godt er! Men se, også det var tomhet.
OTB: Jeg sa til meg selv: «Kom nå, jeg vil teste deg med glede for å oppdage hva som er verdt.» Men også dette viste seg å være forgjeves.
B1930: Jeg sa til mitt hjerte: Vel, jeg vil prøve dig med glede; nyt det som godt er! Men se, også det var tomhet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Luke 12:19
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 8:15
So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
Read in context
James 5:1
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
Read in context
James 5:5
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.
Read in context
Psalms 27:8
My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.
Read in context
Psalms 30:6–7
In prosperity I said, “I will never be shaken.”
Read in context
2 Kings 5:5
“Go now,” said the king of Aram, “and I will send you with a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 1:16–17
I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”
Read in context