Lectionary Calendar
Friday, August 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Ecclesiastes 2:2
This verse is not available in the MSG!
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- EveryParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?”
I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?”
Hebrew Names Version
I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
King James Version
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
English Standard Version
I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"
I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"
New American Standard Bible
I said of laughter, "It is senseless," and of pleasure, "What does this accomplish?"
I said of laughter, "It is senseless," and of pleasure, "What does this accomplish?"
New Century Version
It is foolish to laugh all the time, and having fun doesn't accomplish anything.
It is foolish to laugh all the time, and having fun doesn't accomplish anything.
Amplified Bible
I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"
I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"
World English Bible
I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
I saide of laughter, Thou art mad: and of ioy, What is this that thou doest?
I saide of laughter, Thou art mad: and of ioy, What is this that thou doest?
Legacy Standard Bible
I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of gladness, "What does it do?"
I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of gladness, "What does it do?"
Berean Standard Bible
I said of laughter, "It is folly," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"
I said of laughter, "It is folly," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"
Contemporary English Version
Laughing and having fun is crazy. What good does it do?
Laughing and having fun is crazy. What good does it do?
Complete Jewish Bible
Of laughter I said, "This is stupid," and of pleasure, "What's the use of it?"
Of laughter I said, "This is stupid," and of pleasure, "What's the use of it?"
Darby Translation
I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it?
I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it?
Easy-to-Read Version
It is foolish to laugh all the time. Having fun does not do any good.
It is foolish to laugh all the time. Having fun does not do any good.
George Lamsa Translation
I said of laughter, What pleasure is there in it? and of mirth, What do you accomplish?
I said of laughter, What pleasure is there in it? and of mirth, What do you accomplish?
Good News Translation
I discovered that laughter is foolish, that pleasure does you no good.
I discovered that laughter is foolish, that pleasure does you no good.
Lexham English Bible
I said of laughter, "It is folly!" and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"
I said of laughter, "It is folly!" and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"
Literal Translation
I said of laughter, It is madness, and of mirth, What does it do?
I said of laughter, It is madness, and of mirth, What does it do?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
in so moch that I sayde vnto laughter: thou art madd, and to myrth: what doest thou?
in so moch that I sayde vnto laughter: thou art madd, and to myrth: what doest thou?
American Standard Version
I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?
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?
Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy--What use is it?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
I said of laughter: 'It is mad'; and of mirth: 'What doth it accomplish?'
I said of laughter: 'It is mad'; and of mirth: 'What doth it accomplish?'
King James Version (1611)
I saide of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
I saide of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Insomuch that I saide vnto the man geuen to laughter, thou art mad: and to mirth, what doest thou?
Insomuch that I saide vnto the man geuen to laughter, thou art mad: and to mirth, what doest thou?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why doest thou this:
I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why doest thou this:
English Revised Version
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And leiyyng Y arrettide errour, and Y seide to ioye, What art thou disseyued in veyn?
And leiyyng Y arrettide errour, and Y seide to ioye, What art thou disseyued in veyn?
Update Bible Version
I said of laughter, It is insane; and of mirth, What does it do?
I said of laughter, It is insane; and of mirth, What does it do?
Webster's Bible Translation
I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
New English Translation
I said of partying, "It is folly," and of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!"
I said of partying, "It is folly," and of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!"
New King James Version
I said of laughter--"Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
I said of laughter--"Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
New Living Translation
So I said, "Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?"
So I said, "Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?"
New Life Bible
I said of laughing, "It is crazy," and of fun, "What use is it?"
I said of laughing, "It is crazy," and of fun, "What use is it?"
New Revised Standard
I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"
I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Of laughter, I said, Madness! and, of mirth, What can it do?
Of laughter, I said, Madness! and, of mirth, What can it do?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived?
Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived?
Revised Standard Version
I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"
I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"
Young's Literal Translation
Of laughter I said, `Foolish!' and of mirth, `What [is] this it is doing?'
Of laughter I said, `Foolish!' and of mirth, `What [is] this it is doing?'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"
I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"
Contextual Overview
1I said to myself, "Let's go for it—experiment with pleasure, have a good time!" But there was nothing to it, nothing but smoke. What do I think of the fun-filled life? Insane! Inane! My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it? With the help of a bottle of wine and all the wisdom I could muster, I tried my level best to penetrate the absurdity of life. I wanted to get a handle on anything useful we mortals might do during the years we spend on this earth. 4Oh, I did great things: built houses, planted vineyards, designed gardens and parks and planted a variety of fruit trees in them, made pools of water to irrigate the groves of trees. I bought slaves, male and female, who had children, giving me even more slaves; then I acquired large herds and flocks, larger than any before me in Jerusalem. I piled up silver and gold, loot from kings and kingdoms. I gathered a chorus of singers to entertain me with song, and—most exquisite of all pleasures— voluptuous maidens for my bed. 9Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What's more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day's work! 11 Then I took a good look at everything I'd done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I said: Solomon is not speaking here of sober enjoyment of the things of the world, but of intemperate pleasure, whose two attendants, laughter and mirth, are introduced by a beautiful prosopopoeia, as two persons, whom he treats with the utmost contempt.
It is: Ecclesiastes 7:2-6, Proverbs 14:13, Isaiah 22:12, Isaiah 22:13, Amos 6:3-6, 1 Peter 4:2-4
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 25:36 - merry Ecclesiastes 7:6 - as Ecclesiastes 10:19 - feast Matthew 13:45 - seeking Luke 6:25 - laugh James 4:9 - let
Cross-References
Genesis 1:31
God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning— Day Six.
God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning— Day Six.
Genesis 2:8
Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.
Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.
Exodus 23:12
"Work for six days and rest the seventh so your ox and donkey may rest and your servant and migrant workers may have time to get their needed rest.
"Work for six days and rest the seventh so your ox and donkey may rest and your servant and migrant workers may have time to get their needed rest.
Isaiah 58:13
"If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God 's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing ‘business as usual,' making money, running here and there— Then you'll be free to enjoy God ! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob." Yes! God says so!
"If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God 's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing ‘business as usual,' making money, running here and there— Then you'll be free to enjoy God ! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob." Yes! God says so!
John 5:17
But Jesus defended himself. "My Father is working straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I."
But Jesus defended himself. "My Father is working straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I."
Hebrews 4:4
When the Promises Are Mixed with Faith For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God's goal for us, we need to be careful that we're not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn't do them a bit of good because they didn't receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if we don't have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." God made that vow, even though he'd finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it's written, "God rested the seventh day, having completed his work," but in this other text he says, "They'll never be able to sit down and rest." So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David's psalm, centuries later than the original invitation: Today, please listen, don't turn a deaf ear... And so this is still a live promise. It wasn't canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn't keep renewing the appointment for "today." The promise of "arrival" and "rest" is still there for God's people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we'll surely rest with God. So let's keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience. God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what. Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
When the Promises Are Mixed with Faith For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God's goal for us, we need to be careful that we're not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn't do them a bit of good because they didn't receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if we don't have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." God made that vow, even though he'd finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it's written, "God rested the seventh day, having completed his work," but in this other text he says, "They'll never be able to sit down and rest." So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David's psalm, centuries later than the original invitation: Today, please listen, don't turn a deaf ear... And so this is still a live promise. It wasn't canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn't keep renewing the appointment for "today." The promise of "arrival" and "rest" is still there for God's people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we'll surely rest with God. So let's keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience. God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what. Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
I said of laughter, [it is] mad,.... The risible faculty in man is given him for some usefulness; and when used in a moderate way, and kept within due bounds, is of service to him, and conduces to the health of his body, and the pleasure of his mind; but when used on every trivial occasion, and at every foolish thing that is said or done, and indulged to excess, it is mere madness, and makes a man look more like a madman and a fool than a wise man; it lasts but for a while, and the end of it is heaviness, Ecclesiastes 7:6. Or, "I said to laughter, [thou art] mad" x; and therefore will have nothing to do with thee in the excessive and criminal way, but shun thee, as one would do a mad man: this therefore is not to be reckoned into the pleasure he bid his soul go to and enjoy;
and of mirth, what doth it? what good does do? of what profit and advantage is it to man? If the question is concerning innocent mirth, the answer may be given out of Proverbs 15:13; but if of carnal sinful mirth, there is no good arises from that to the body or mind; or any kind of happiness to be enjoyed that way, and therefore no trial is to be made of it. What the wise man proposed to make trial of, and did, follows in the next verses.
x לשחוק אמרתי מהולל "risui dixi, insanis", Mercerus, Drusius, Amama; "vel insanus es", Piscator, Schmidt, Rambachius.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:2. I said of laughter, It is mad — Literally "To laughter I said, O mad one! and to mirth, What is this one doing?"
Solomon does not speak here of a sober enjoyment of the things of this world, but of intemperate pleasure, whose two attendants, laughter and mirth are introduced by a beautiful prosopopoeia as two persons; and the contemptuous manner wherewith he treats them has something remarkably striking. He tells the former to her face that she is mad; but as to the latter, he thinks her so much beneath his notice, that he only points at her, and instantly turns his back.
