Ecclesiastes 2:3

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?”

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.

⁴ I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.

⁵ I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.

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

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
ASV: I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding [me] with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.
DARBY: I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.
BLB: I searched in my heart to draw out my flesh with wine, and my heart was guiding me in wisdom, and to lay hold on folly, until that I might see where [is] this good for the sons of man, that they [might] do under the heavens the number of the days of their lives.

ÅB: Jeg tenkte i mitt indre på å kvege mitt legeme med vin, mens mitt hjerte ledet meg med visdom - jeg tenkte på å holde fast ved dårskapen, til jeg fikk se hva det var best for menneskenes barn å gjøre under himmelen alle deres levedager.
OTB: Jeg forsøkte å oppmuntre meg selv med vin, omfavne dårskap—mitt sinn ledet meg fortsatt med visdom—for å skjelne hva som er godt for mennesker å gjøre under himmelen i løpet av deres korte liv.
B1930: Jeg tenkte i mitt indre på å kvege mitt legeme med vin, mens mitt hjerte ledet mig med visdom - jeg tenkte på å holde fast ved dårskapen, til jeg fikk se hvad det var best for menneskenes barn å gjøre under himmelen alle deres levedager.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 1:17
So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.
Read in context
Proverbs 31:4–5
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 6:12
For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 12:13
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
Read in context
Genesis 47:9
“My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”
Read in context
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Read in context
Job 14:14
When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
Read in context