Ecclesiastes 2:1–11

The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions

1 I said 1to myself, “Come now, I will test you with apleasure. So 2enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility.

2 aI said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

3 I explored with my 1mind how to astimulate my body with wine while my 1mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of bfolly, until I could see cwhat good there is for the sons of men 2to do under heaven the few 3years of their lives.

4 I enlarged my works: I abuilt houses for myself, I planted bvineyards for myself;

5 I made agardens and bparks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;

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

7 I bought male and female slaves and I had 1ahomeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and bherds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.

8 Also, I collected for myself silver and agold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself bmale and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines.

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

10 aAll that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my breward for all my labor.

11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had 1exerted, and behold all was 2avanity and striving after wind and there was bno profit under the sun.