Ecclesiastes 2:1-6 ▼

1 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure and gratification; so enjoy yourself and have a good time.” But behold, this too was vanity (futility, meaninglessness).

2 I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

3 I explored with my mind how to gratify myself with wine while [at the same time] having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

4 I made great works: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself;

5 I made gardens and orchards for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;

6 I made pools of water for myself from which to water the forest and make the trees bud.