Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Contemporary English Version

It Is Senseless To Be Selfish

2 I said to myself, “Have fun and enjoy yourself!” But this didn't make sense. ² Laughing and having fun is crazy. What good does it do? ³ I wanted to find out what was best for us during the short time we have on this earth. So I decided to make myself happy with wine and find out what it means to be foolish, without really being foolish myself.

^4 (A) I did some great things. I built houses and planted vineyards. ⁵ I had flower gardens and orchards full of fruit trees. ⁶ And I had pools where I could get water for the trees. ^7 (B) I owned slaves, and their sons and daughters became my slaves. I had more sheep and goats than anyone who had ever lived in Jerusalem. ^8 (C) Foreign rulers brought me silver, gold, and precious treasures. Men and women sang for me, and I had many wives^[a] who gave me great pleasure.

^9 (D) I was the most famous person who had ever lived in Jerusalem, and I was very wise. ¹⁰ I got whatever I wanted and did whatever made me happy. But most of all, I enjoyed my work. ¹¹ Then I thought about everything I had done, including the hard work, and it was simply chasing the wind.^[b] Nothing on earth is worth the trouble.