Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
Christian Standard Bible
The Emptiness of Possessions
4 I increased my achievements. I built houses(A) and planted vineyards(B) for myself. 5 I made gardens(C) and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. 6 I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.(D) 7 I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house.(E) I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.(F) 8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.(G) I gathered male and female singers for myself,(H) and many concubines, the delights of men.[a][b] 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem;(I) my wisdom also remained with me. 10 All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them.(J) I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.(K) 11 When I considered all that I had accomplished[c] and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind.[d](L) There was nothing to be gained under the sun.(M)
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Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
International Standard Version
A Testimony to Extravagant Works
4 With respect to my extravagant works, I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. 5 I constructed gardens and orchards for myself, and within them I planted all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built for myself water reservoirs to irrigate forests that produce trees.
A Testimony to Extravagant Possessions
7 I acquired male and female slaves, and had other slaves born in my house. I also acquired for myself increasing numbers of herds and flocks—more than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also accumulated silver, gold, and the wealth of kings and their kingdoms. I gathered around me both male and female singers, along with what delights a man—all sorts of mistresses.
A Testimony to Extravagant Position
9 So I became great, greater than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. Throughout all of this, I remained wise. 10 Whenever I wanted something I had seen, I never refused that desire. Instead, I enjoyed everything I did, and this became the reward in what I had undertaken. 11 Then I examined all of my accomplishments that I had brought about by my own efforts, including the work that I had labored so hard to complete—and it was all pointless, like chasing after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained on earth.
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