Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Emptiness of Possessions
4 I increased my achievements. I built houses(A) and planted vineyards(B) for myself. 5 I made gardens(C) and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. 6 I constructed reservoirs of water for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.(D) 7 I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house.(E) I also owned many herds of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.(F) 8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.(G) I gathered male and female singers for myself,(H) and many concubines, the delights of men.[a][b] 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem;(I) my wisdom also remained with me. 10 All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them.(J) I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.(K) 11 When I considered all that I had accomplished[c] and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind.(L) There was nothing to be gained under the sun.(M)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 LXX, Theod, Syr read and male cupbearers and female cupbearers; Aq, Tg, Vg read a cup and cups; Hb obscure
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 Or many treasures that people delight in
- Ecclesiastes 2:11 Lit all my works that my hands had done
Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
New Living Translation
4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!
9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
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Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
New International Version
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. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves(C) who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold(D) for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.(E) I acquired male and female singers,(F) and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem(G) before me.(H) In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;(I)
nothing was gained under the sun.(J)
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
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