Ecclesiastes 2:1-9 ▼

1 I said to myself, |Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.| And behold, it too was futility.

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

3 I explored with my mind [how] to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding [me] wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.

4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;

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

6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.

7 I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.

8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men-- many concubines.

9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.