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I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit. I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown. I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men: musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. 10 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold 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 at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

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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