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The Vanity of Pleasure

And I said in my heart, “Come, and I will test you with selfish pleasures to experience desires.” And notice that this too is vanity. And I said of frivolous fun, “They are only senseless ideas”; and regarding selfish pleasure, “What purpose is this?” I investigated how to cheer up my body with wine, while my heart was still guiding me with wisdom, in order to grasp folly until I might experience what is good for sons of men to do under heaven during the number of days that they might have life.

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

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

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.

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