Ecclesiastes 2:2
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What does it?
American King James Version (AKJV)
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What does it?
American Standard Version (ASV)
I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy--What use is it?
Webster's Revision
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
World English Bible
I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
English Revised Version (ERV)
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Definitions for Ecclesiastes 2:2
Clarke's Ecclesiastes 2:2 Bible Commentary
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.
Wesley's Ecclesiastes 2:2 Bible Commentary
2:2 It is mad - This is an act of madness, more fit for fools who know nothing, than for wise men in this sinful, and dangerous, and deplorable state of mankind. What doth it - What good doth it? Or how can it make men happy? I challenge all the Epicures in the world to give me a solid answer.