Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. New Living Translation I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! English Standard Version I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. Berean Standard Bible and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines. King James Bible I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. New King James Version I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. New American Standard Bible I also amassed for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers, and the pleasures of the sons of mankind: many concubines. NASB 1995 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men— many concubines. NASB 1977 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines. Legacy Standard Bible Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of the sons of men—many concubines. Amplified Bible Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male singers and female singers, and the delights and pleasures of men—many concubines. Christian Standard Bible I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. Holman Christian Standard Bible I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. American Standard Version I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts. Aramaic Bible in Plain English I gathered to me also silver and gold and the property of Kings and of cities; I made for myself male Singers and female Singers and delight among the children of man. I made for myself male Cupbearers and female Cupbearers Brenton Septuagint Translation Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers. Contemporary English Version Foreign rulers brought me silver, gold, and precious treasures. Men and women sang for me, and I had many wives who gave me great pleasure. Douay-Rheims Bible I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine: English Revised Version I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, concubines very many. GOD'S WORD® Translation I also gathered silver and gold for myself. I gathered the treasures of kings and provinces. I provided myself with male and female singers and the pleasures men have with one concubine after another. Good News Translation I also piled up silver and gold from the royal treasuries of the lands I ruled. Men and women sang to entertain me, and I had all the women a man could want. International Standard Version I also accumulated silver, gold, and the wealth of kings and their kingdoms. I gathered around me both male and female singers, along with what delights a man—all sorts of mistresses. JPS Tanakh 1917 I gathered me also silver and gold, and treasure such as kings and the provinces have as their own; I got me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, women very many. Literal Standard Version I also gathered for myself silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for myself men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man—a wife and wives. Majority Standard Bible and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines. New American Bible I amassed for myself silver and gold, and the treasures of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and delights of men, many women. NET Bible I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight--a harem of beautiful concubines! New Revised Standard Version I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, and many concubines. New Heart English Bible I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men--musical instruments, and that of all sorts. Webster's Bible Translation I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, and of the provinces: I procured me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and of all sorts. World English Bible I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men: musical instruments of all sorts. Young's Literal Translation I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Futility of Pleasure…7I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me, 8and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men— many concubines. 9So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.… Cross References 2 Samuel 19:35 I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 1 Kings 9:28 They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there--420 talents--and delivered it to Solomon. 1 Kings 10:10 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was such an abundance of spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 1 Kings 10:14 The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, Treasury of Scripture I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. silver 1 Kings 9:14,28 And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold… 1 Kings 10:10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. 1 Kings 14:21,22,27 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess… men singers 2 Samuel 19:35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? Ezra 2:65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. musical instruments 1 Chronicles 25:1,6 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: … Job 21:11,12 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance… Psalm 150:3-5 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp… Jump to Previous Acquired Amassed Concubines Delight Delights Female Gat Gathered Gold Harem Heart Instruments Kings Male Musical Peculiar Pleasures Procured Provided Provinces Silver Singers Sorts Treasure WomenJump to Next Acquired Amassed Concubines Delight Delights Female Gat Gathered Gold Harem Heart Instruments Kings Male Musical Peculiar Pleasures Procured Provided Provinces Silver Singers Sorts Treasure WomenEcclesiastes 2 1. the vanity of human courses is the work of pleasure12. Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event 18. The vanity of human labor, in leaving it they know not to whom 24. Nothing better than joy in our labor but that is God's gift (8) Peculiar treasure.--The word is used of the Jewish people (Exodus 19:9; Psalm 135:4; Malachi 3:17; but generally 1Chronicles 29:3). That Solomon had tributary kings is stated (1Kings 4:21; 2Chronicles 9:24; Psalm 72:10; Ezra 4:20). The word used for "provinces" here and in Ecclesiastes 5:8, occurs in reference to the provinces of the Persian Empire repeatedly in the Book of Esther; Ezra 2:1; Nehemiah 7:6; Daniel 8:2. (See also Lamentations 1:1; Ezekiel 19:8.) The word is almost wholly absent from the earlier books, save that it occurs where the "princes of the provinces" are mentioned (1 Kings 20). . . . Verse 8. - I gathered me also silver and gold. Much is said of the wealth of the historical Solomon, who had all his vessels of gold, armed his body-guard with golden shields, sat on an ivory throne overlaid with gold, received tribute and presents of gold from all quarters, sent his navies to distant lands to import precious metals, and made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones (see 1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:14-27; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 2 Chronicles 9:20-27). The peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. The word rendered "the provinces" (hammedinoth), in spite of the article, seems to mean, not the twelve districts into which Solomon divided his kingdom for fiscal and economical purposes (1 Kings 4:7, etc.), but countries generally exterior to Palestine, with which he had commercial or political relations, and which sent to him the productions for which they were each most celebrated. So the districts of the Persian empire were required to furnish the monarch with a certain portion of their chief commodities. His friendship with Hiram of Tyro brought him into connection with the Phoeni-clans, the greatest commercial nation of antiquity, and through them he accumulated riches and stores from distant and various lands beyond the limits of the Mediterranean Sea. The word מְדִינָה (medinah) occurs again in Ecclesiastes 5:7 and in 1 Kings 20:14, etc.; but is found elsewhere only in exilian or post-exilian books (e.g. Lamentations 1:1; Esther 1:1, etc.; Daniel 2:48, etc.). The "kings" may be the tributary monarchs, such as those of Arabia (1 Kings 4:21, 24; 1 Kings 10:15); or the expression in the text may imply simply such treasure as only kings, and not private persons, could possess. Men-singers and women-singers. These, of course, are not the choir of the temple, of which women formed no part, bur. musicians introduced at banquets and social festivals, to enhance the pleasures of the scene. They are mentioned in David's days (2 Samuel 19:35) and later (see Isaiah 5:12; Amos 6:5; Ecclus. 35:5 Ecclus. 49:1). The females who took part in these performances were generally of an abandoned class; hence the, warning of Ben-Sira, "Use not much the company of a woman that is a singer, lest thou be taken with her attempts" (Ecclus. 9:4). Such exhibitions were usually accompanied with dancing, the character of which in Eastern countries is well known. The Jews, as time went on, learned to tolerate many customs and practices, imported often from other lands, which tended to lower morality and self-respect. And the delights of the sons of men; the sensual pleasures that men enjoy. The expression is euphemistic (comp. Song of Solomon 7:6). Musical instruments, and that of all sorts (shiddah veshiddoth). The word (given here first in the singular number and then in the plural emphatically to express multitude) occurs nowhere else, and has, therefore, been subjected to various interpretations. The Septuagint gives, οἰνοχόον καὶ οἰνοχόας, "a male cupbearer and female cupbearers;" and so the Syrian and. Vulgate, Scyphos et urceos in ministerio ad vina fundenda - which introduces rather a bathos into the description. After the clause immediately preceding, one might expect mention of Solomon's numerous harem (1 Kings 11:3; Song of Solomon 6:8), and most modern commentators consider the word to mean "concubine," the whole expression denoting multiplicity, "wife and wives." The Authorized Version is not very probable, though somewhat supported by Kimchi, Luther, etc., and the Greek Venetian, which has, δύδτημα καὶ συστήματα, a musical term signifying "combination of tones," or harmony. Other interpretations are "captives," "litters," "coaches," "baths," "treasures," "chests," "demons." Ewald, followed by Motais and others, suggests that the word implies a strong or high degree of a quality, so that, connecting the two clauses together, we should render, "And in a word, all the delights of the sons of men in abundance." This seems a more appropriate termination to the catalogue than any specification of further sources of pleasure; but there is no very strong etymological reason to recommend it; and we can hardly suppose that, in the enumeration of Solomon's prodigalities, his multitudinous seraglio would be omitted. Rather it comes in here naturally as the climax and completion of his pursuit of earthly delight. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew and Iגַּם־ (gam-) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and accumulated כָּנַ֤סְתִּי (kā·nas·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 3664: To collect, to enfold for myself לִי֙ (lî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew silver כֶּ֣סֶף (ke·sep̄) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3701: Silver, money and gold וְזָהָ֔ב (wə·zā·hāḇ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky and the treasure וּסְגֻלַּ֥ת (ū·sə·ḡul·laṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 5459: Possession, property of kings מְלָכִ֖ים (mə·lā·ḵîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4428: A king and provinces. וְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹת (wə·ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 4082: A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region I gathered עָשִׂ֨יתִי (‘ā·śî·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 6213: To do, make to myself לִ֜י (lî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew male and שָׁרִ֣ים (šā·rîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7891: To sing female singers, וְשָׁר֗וֹת (wə·šā·rō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural Strong's 7891: To sing and the delights וְתַעֲנוּגֹ֛ת (wə·ṯa·‘ă·nū·ḡōṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 8588: Daintiness, luxury, exquisite delight of the sons בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son of men— הָאָדָ֖ם (hā·’ā·ḏām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being many שִׁדָּ֥ה (šid·dāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 7705: Perhaps a mistress concubines. וְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃ (wə·šid·dō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 7705: Perhaps a mistress Links Ecclesiastes 2:8 NIVEcclesiastes 2:8 NLT Ecclesiastes 2:8 ESV Ecclesiastes 2:8 NASB Ecclesiastes 2:8 KJV Ecclesiastes 2:8 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 2:8 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 2:8 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 2:8 French Bible Ecclesiastes 2:8 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 2:8 I also gathered silver and gold (Ecclesiast. 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