Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Legacy Standard Bible

The Vanity of Pleasure and Possessions

2 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with ^(A)gladness, so that you shall see good things.” And behold, it too was vanity. ^2 (B)I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of gladness, “What does it do?” ³ I explored with my heart how to ^[a](C)stimulate my ^[b]body with wine—while my heart was guiding me wisely—and how to seize ^(D)simpleminded folly, until I could see ^(E)where is this good for the sons of men in what they do under heaven the few days of their lives. ⁴ I made my works great: I ^(F)built houses for myself; I planted ^(G)vineyards for myself; ⁵ I made for myself ^(H)gardens and ^(I)parks, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; ⁶ I made for myself ^(J)pools of water from which to water a forest of growing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves, and I had ^[c](K)homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and ^(L)herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. ⁸ Also, I collected for myself silver and ^(M)gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself ^(N)male and female singers and the pleasures of the sons of men—many concubines.

⁹ Then I became ^(O)great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. ^10 (P)All that my eyes asked for I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any gladness, for my heart was glad because of all my labor, and this was my ^(Q)reward for all my labor. ¹¹ Thus I turned to all my works which my hands had done and the labor which I had labored to do, and behold, all was ^[d](R)vanity and striving after wind, and there was ^(S)no advantage under the sun.