Bible Verses About Pleasure

“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.

He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

He shall suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue shall kill him.

They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.

“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.

I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

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

I said of laughter, “It is foolishness”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.

I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.

I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared.

I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem;

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.

So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.

Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.

Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; who stay late into the night, until wine inflames them!