I made great works. I (A)built houses and planted (B)vineyards for myself. I made myself (C)gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 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. 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.

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:8 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 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. 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!

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.

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