Ecclesiastes 2:1 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

I said in my heart, `Pray, come, I try thee with mirth, and look thou on gladness;` and lo, even it [is] vanity.

English ASV

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

English Amplified

I SAID in my mind, Come now, I will prove you with mirth and test you with pleasure; so have a good time [enjoy pleasure]. But this also was vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)! [Luke 12:19, 20.]

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

I SAID in my mind, Come now, I will prove you with mirth and test you with pleasure; so have a good time [enjoy pleasure]. But this also was vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)! [Luke 12:19, 20.]

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

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

English CSB 2017 - 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.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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

English EASY 2024

I said to myself, ‘I will enjoy the good things of life. I will see if that helps me to be happy.’ But I realized that this too had no purpose.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

I said to myself, "I should have fun—I should enjoy everything as much as I can." But I learned that this is also useless.

I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

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

English God's Word - GW 1995

I thought to myself, "Now I want to experiment with pleasure and enjoy myself." But even this was pointless.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

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

English KJV 1611

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

English LSB

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with gladness, so that you shall see good things.” And behold, it too was vanity.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

And I said in my heart, “Come, and I will test you with selfish pleasures; enjoy your desires.” And notice that this too is vanity.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

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

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

I said to myself, "Come, now, let me try you with pleasure and the enjoyment of good things." But behold, this too was vanity.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

[1] 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.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

I said to myself, "Come on. I'll put pleasure to the test. I want to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless.

English NIV

I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless.

English NKJ 1982

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

English NLT

I said to myself, "Come now, let's give pleasure a try. Let's look for the `good things' in life." But I found that this, too, was meaningless.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

I said to myself, "Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself." But again, this also was vanity.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

I said to myself, “Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

I said to myself, “Come now, be merry; enjoy yourself to the full.“ But I found that this, too, was futile.

English Tyndale 1537

Then said I thus in my heart: Now go to, I will take mine ease and have good days. But lo, that was vanity also:

Ecclesiastes 2:1 — Compare Translations