38 The vav prefixed to וְגָדַלְתִּי (végadalti, vav + Qal perfect first common singular from גָּדַל, gadal, “to be great; to increase”) functions in a final summarizing sense, that is, it introduces the concluding summary of 2:4–9.
39 Heb “I became great and I surpassed” (וְהוֹסַפְתִּי וְגָדַלְתִּי, végadalti véhosafti). This is a verbal hendiadys in which the second verb functions adverbially, modifying the first: “I became far greater.” Most translations miss the hendiadys and render the line in a woodenly literal sense (, , , , , , , , ), while only a few recognize the presence of hendiadys here: “I became greater by far” () and “I gained more” ().
40 Heb “yet my wisdom stood for me,” meaning he retained his wise perspective despite his great wealth.
41 Heb “all which my eyes asked for, I did not withhold from them.”
42 Heb “I did not refuse my heart any pleasure.” The term לִבִּי (libbi, “my heart”) is a synecdoche of part (i.e., heart) for the whole (i.e., whole person); see E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech, . The term is repeated twice in 2:10 for emphasis.
43 Heb “So my heart was joyful from all my toil.”
44 Heb “and this was my portion from all my toil.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;

I refused my heart no pleasure.

My heart took delight in all my labor,

and this was the reward for all my toil.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.

NLTNew Living Translation

So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Thus, I accomplished far more than anyone who was before me in Jerusalem—indeed, my wisdom stood by me. I neither withheld anything from my eyes that they desired, nor did I deprive any pleasure from my heart. My heart rejoiced in all my toil, for this was my reward from all my toil.

KJV 1900King James Version

So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

Public Domain