¹⁶ I said to myself, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”^(A)

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.

⁹ So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me.^(A)