13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I give up my new wine, which cheers God and mankind, and go to wave over the trees?’

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13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine,(A) which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

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15 And (A)wine, which makes a human heart cheerful,
(B)So that he makes his face gleam with oil,
And [a]food, which (C)sustains a human heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 104:15 Lit bread

15 wine(A) that gladdens human hearts,
    oil(B) to make their faces shine,
    and bread that sustains(C) their hearts.

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I explored with my [a]mind how to (A)refresh my body with wine while my [b]mind was guiding me wisely; and how to seize (B)foolishness, until I could see (C)what good there is for the sons of mankind [c]to do under heaven for the few [d]years of their lives.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:3 Lit heart
  2. Ecclesiastes 2:3 Lit heart
  3. Ecclesiastes 2:3 Lit which they do
  4. Ecclesiastes 2:3 Lit days

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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