¹⁶ I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me;^(A) I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷ Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom,^(B) and also of madness and folly,^(C) but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

⁴ I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself^(A) and planted vineyards.^{(B) 5} I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.

⁸ I amassed silver and gold^(A) for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.^(B) I acquired male and female singers,^(C) and a harem^[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹ I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem^(D) before me.^(E) In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.^{(A) 11} He has made everything beautiful in its time.^(B) He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet^[a] no one can fathom^(C) what God has done from beginning to end.^{(D) 12} I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink,^(E) and find satisfaction^(F) in all their toil—this is the gift of God.^{(G) 14} I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.^(H)