Ecclesiastes 2:1-9 ▼

1 I told myself, |I will test you with pleasure, so enjoy yourself.| But this was pointless.

2 |Senseless,| said I concerning laughter and pleasure, |How practical is this?|

3 I decided to indulge in wine, while still remaining committed to wisdom. I also tried to indulge in foolishness, just enough to determine whether it was good for human beings under heaven given the short time of their lives.

4 With respect to my extravagant works, I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

5 I constructed gardens and orchards for myself, and within them I planted all kinds of fruit trees.

6 I built for myself water reservoirs to irrigate forests that produce trees.

7 I acquired male and female slaves, and had other slaves born in my house. I also acquired for myself increasing numbers of herds and flocks—more than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem.

8 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.

9 So I became great, greater than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. Throughout all of this, I remained wise.