Ecclesiastes 1:16-2:11

New International Version

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me;^(A) I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷ Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom,^(B) and also of madness and folly,^(C) but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

Pleasures Are Meaningless

2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure^(F) to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. ² “Laughter,”^(G) I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” ³ I tried cheering myself with wine,^(H) and embracing folly^(I)—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

⁴ I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself^(J) and planted vineyards.^{(K) 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^(L) 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^(M) for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.^(N) I acquired male and female singers,^(O) and a harem^[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹ I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem^(P) before me.^(Q) In all this my wisdom stayed with me.