Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
New American Standard Bible
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)slaves born at home. I also possessed flocks and (G)herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 I also amassed 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 mankind: 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 restrain 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 So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had [b]exerted, and behold, all was (M)futility and striving after wind, and there was (N)no benefit under the sun.
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- Ecclesiastes 2:7 Lit sons
- Ecclesiastes 2:11 Lit labored to do
Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
American Standard Version
4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; 5 I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit; 6 I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared; 7 I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem; 8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, [a]musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom [b]remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
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- Ecclesiastes 2:8 Or, concubines very many. The meaning of the Hebrew is very uncertain.
- Ecclesiastes 2:9 Or, stood by me
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