Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁴ I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself;^{(A) 5} I made myself gardens and parks and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.^{(B) 6} I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves and had slaves who were born in my house; I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. ⁸ I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, many concubines.^[a](C)

⁹ So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me.^{(D) 10} Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure from all my toil, and this was my reward from all my toil.^{(E) 11} Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.^(F)