Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
Legacy Standard Bible
4 I made my works great: I (A)built houses for myself; I planted (B)vineyards for myself; 5 I made for myself (C)gardens and (D)parks, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made for myself (E)pools of water from which to water a forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and I had [a](F)homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and (G)herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and (H)gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself (I)male and female singers and the pleasures of the sons of men—many concubines.
9 Then I became (J)great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10 (K)All that my eyes asked for I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any gladness, for my heart was glad because of all my labor, and this was my (L)reward for all my labor. 11 Thus I turned to all my works which my hands had done and the labor which I had labored to do, and behold, all was [b](M)vanity and striving after wind, and there was (N)no advantage under the sun.
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- Ecclesiastes 2:7 Lit sons of the house
- Ecclesiastes 2:11 Or futility, so in ch
Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
Evangelical Heritage Version
4 I undertook great projects. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted every kind of fruit tree in them. 6 I made reservoirs of water for myself to irrigate a forest of sprouting trees. 7 I acquired male and female servants. I also had slaves that were born in my own house. Livestock too! I had more herds and flocks than anyone before me in Jerusalem. 8 I piled up silver and gold for myself, as well as treasures from kings and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives great pleasure to men—one concubine after another.[a]
9 So I became great, and I surpassed all who were in Jerusalem before me. Nevertheless, my wisdom still stayed with me. 10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not withhold from them. I did not hold my heart back from any pleasure. My heart even took pleasure in all my hard work. This was what I got from all my hard work.
11 But when I turned my attention to everything that my hands had done and to how hard I had worked for it—note this—it was all vapor, all chasing the wind. There was no benefit under the sun.
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- Ecclesiastes 2:8 The meaning of this phrase is uncertain. Most translations regard it as a reference to a harem.
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