Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

New International Reader's Version

Pleasure Is Meaningless

2 I said to myself, “Come on. I’ll try out pleasure. I want to find out if it is good.” But it also proved to be meaningless. ² “Laughter doesn’t make any sense,” I said. “And what can pleasure do for me?” ³ I 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 good for people to do on earth during their short lives.

⁴ So I started some large projects. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards. ⁵ I made gardens and parks. I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made lakes to water groves of healthy trees. ⁷ I 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. ⁸ I 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. ⁹ I became far more important than anyone in Jerusalem had ever been before. And in spite of everything, I didn’t lose my wisdom.