Ecclesiastes 2:1-9 ▼

1 I said in my heart, “Come, now, let me try you with pleasure and the enjoyment of good things.” See, this too was vanity.

2 Of laughter I said: “Mad!” and of mirth: “What good does this do?”

3 Guided by wisdom, I probed with my mind how to beguile my senses with wine and take up folly, until I should understand what is good for human beings to do under the heavens during the limited days of their lives.

4 I undertook great works; I built myself houses and planted vineyards;

5 I made gardens and parks, and in them set out fruit trees of all sorts.

6 And I constructed for myself reservoirs to water a flourishing woodland.

7 I acquired male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I also owned vast herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem.

8 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.

9 I accumulated much more than all others before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom, too, stayed with me.