1
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
3
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, 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; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
5
I made me gardens and orchards, 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 got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
8
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
9
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
10
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.
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 vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
20
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
21
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
23
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.