Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

21st Century King James Version

2 I said in mine heart, “Go now, I will test thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure.” And behold, this also is vanity.

² I said of laughter: “It is madness”; and of mirth: “What good doeth it?”

³ I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine (yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom), and to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for the sons of men, which they should do under heaven all the days of their life.

⁴ I made me great work, I builded me houses, I planted me vineyards.

⁵ I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.

⁶ I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees.

⁷ I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house. Also I had great possessions of great and small cattle, above all that were in Jerusalem before me.

⁸ I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments, and those of all sorts.

⁹ So I was great and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

¹⁰ And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.