Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
English Standard Version
4 I made great works. I (A)built houses and planted (B)vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself (C)gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had (D)slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of (E)herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and (F)gold and the treasure of (G)kings and (H)provinces. I got (I)singers, both men and women, and many (J)concubines,[a] the delight of the sons of man.
9 So I became great and (K)surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my (L)wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart (M)found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my (N)reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was (O)vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing (P)to be gained under the sun.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
New Living Translation
4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!
9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.