Pleasures Are Meaningless

2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure^(A) to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless.

¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

¹⁵ So I commend the enjoyment of life^(A), because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink^(B) and be glad.^(C) Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(A) in the day of slaughter.^[a](B)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(A) you rich people,^(B) weep and wail^(C) because of the misery that is coming on you.

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(A) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^(B)

³ At one time^(A) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.