³I explored ways to make myself feel better by drinking wine. I also explored ways to do ⸤some⸥ foolish things. During all that time, wisdom continued to control my mind. I was able to determine whether this was good for mortals to do during their brief lives under heaven.

The Spokesman Studies Personal Achievements

⁴I accomplished some great things:

I built houses for myself.

I planted vineyards for myself.

⁵I made gardens and parks for myself.

I planted every kind of fruit tree in them.

⁶I made pools to water the forest of growing trees.

⁷I bought male and female slaves.

In addition, slaves were born in my household.

I owned more herds and flocks

than anyone in Jerusalem before me.

⁸I also gathered silver and gold for myself.

I gathered the treasures of kings and provinces.

I provided myself with male and female singers

and the pleasures men have with one concubine^aafter another.

⁹So I grew richer than anyone in Jerusalem before me. Yet, my wisdom remained with me. ¹⁰If something appealed to me, I did it. I allowed myself to have any pleasure I wanted, since I found pleasure in my work. This was my reward for all my hard work.

¹¹But when I turned to look at all that I had accomplished and all the hard work I had put into it, I saw that it was all pointless. ⸤It was like⸥ trying to catch the wind. I gained nothing ⸤from any of my accomplishments⸥ under the sun.

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Footnotes

a 2:8 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.