²“Laughter is foolish,” I said. “And what can pleasure do for me?” ³I tried cheering myself up by drinking wine. I even tried living in a foolish way. But wisdom was still guiding my mind. I wanted to see what was really important for men to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

⁴So I started some large projects. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards. ⁵I made gardens and parks. I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶I made lakes to water groves of healthy trees.

⁷I bought male and female slaves. And I had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem ever had before. ⁸I stored up silver and gold for myself. I gathered up the treasures of kings and their kingdoms. I got some male and female singers. I also got many women for myself. Women delight the hearts of men.

⁹I became far more important than anyone in Jerusalem had ever been before. And in spite of everything, I didn’t lose my wisdom.

¹⁰I gave myself everything my eyes wanted.

There wasn’t any pleasure that I refused to give myself.

I took delight in everything I did.

And that was what I got for all of my work.

¹¹But then I looked over everything my hands had done.

I saw what I had worked so hard to get.

And nothing had any meaning.

It was like chasing the wind.

Nothing was gained on this earth.

Read in Logos