Ecclesiastes 2:1–12

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore aenjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 bI said of laughter, It is cmad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 dI sought in mine heart †to give myself unto wine, ddyet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on efolly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven †all the days of their life. 4 I made me great works; fI builded me houses; gI planted me vineyards: 5 I made me hgardens and iorchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 7 I kgot me servants and maidens, and had †servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of lgreat and small cattle above all that were min Jerusalem before me: 8 nI gathered me also silver and gold, and the opeculiar treasure of pkings and of the qprovinces: I gat me rmen singers and women singers, and the sdelights of the sons of men, as †musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So tI was great, and increased more than all that were before me min Jerusalem: also umy wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I xkept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and ythis was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was zvanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no aprofit under the sun.

12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and bmadness, and cfolly: for what can the man do that cometh ccafter the king? ||deven that which hath been ealready done.