Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
American Standard Version
4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; 5 I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit; 6 I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared; 7 I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem; 8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, [a]musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom [b]remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
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- Ecclesiastes 2:8 Or, concubines very many. The meaning of the Hebrew is very uncertain.
- Ecclesiastes 2:9 Or, stood by me
Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
Lexham English Bible
Qohelet’s Investigation of Personal Accomplishment
4 I accomplished great things.[a] I built for myself houses; I planted for myself vineyards. 5 I made for myself gardens and parks, and I planted all sorts of fruit trees in them. 6 I made for myself pools of water from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. 7 I acquired male slaves and female slaves, as well as children born in my house. I also had livestock, cattle, and flocks more than anyone who was before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered to myself silver and gold—the royal and provincial treasuries. I acquired for myself male and female singers, as well as the delight of men,[b] voluptuous concubines.[c]
9 Thus, I accomplished far more[d] than anyone who was before me in Jerusalem—indeed, my wisdom stood by me. 10 I neither withheld anything from my eyes that they desired, nor did I deprive any pleasure from my heart. My heart rejoiced in all my toil, for this was my reward from all my toil. 11 Yet when I considered[e] all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, “Everything is vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!”
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- Ecclesiastes 2:4 Literally “I made great my works”
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 Literally “the sons of the man”
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 Literally “a breast and breasts,” as a synecdoche for beautiful women in the king’s harem
- Ecclesiastes 2:9 Literally “I became great and I surpassed”
- Ecclesiastes 2:11 Or “turned to”
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