The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions

2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure and gratification; so enjoy yourself and have a good time.” But behold, this too was vanity (futility, meaninglessness).^{(A) 2} I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” ³ I explored with my mind how to gratify myself with wine while [at the same time] having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. ⁴ I made great works: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself; ⁵ I made gardens and orchards for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; ⁶ I made pools of water for myself from which to water the forest and make the trees bud. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves and had slaves born in my house. I also possessed herds and flocks larger than any who preceded me in Jerusalem. ⁸ Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male singers and female singers, and the delights and pleasures of men—^[a]many ^[b]concubines.^(B)

⁹ So I became great and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. ¹⁰ Whatever my eyes looked at with desire I did not refuse them. I did not withhold from my heart any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor. ¹¹ Then I considered all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun.^(C)