³ In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons^(A) and daughters.

⁸ Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’^{[a](A) 5} and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’^[b]?^(B)

¹⁴ You ask,^(A) “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness^(B) between you and the wife of your youth.^(C) You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.^(D)

⁹ Enjoy life with your wife,^(A) whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot^(B) in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.

²⁷ “Look,” says the Teacher,^[a](C) “this is what I have discovered:

The Sons of David^(A)(B)

3 These were the sons of David^(C) born to him in Hebron:

David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years,

³ He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines,^(A) and his wives led him astray.^(B)