Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

New American Standard Bible 1995

⁴ I enlarged my works: I ^(A)built houses for myself, I planted ^(B)vineyards for myself; ⁵ I made ^(C)gardens and ^(D)parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; ⁶ I made ^(E)ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate 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 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 desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my ^(L)reward for all my labor. ¹¹ Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had ^[b]exerted, and behold all was ^[c](M)vanity and striving after wind and there was ^(N)no profit under the sun.