I tried cheering myself with wine,(A) and embracing folly(B)—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

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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.

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(A)I searched in my heart how [a]to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was (B)good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:3 Lit. to draw my flesh

32 If I fought wild beasts(A) in Ephesus(B) with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
    for tomorrow we die.”[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13

32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

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32 If, in the manner of men, (A)I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, (B)“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

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