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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 enlarged my works: I (A)built houses for myself, I planted (B)vineyards for myself; I made (C)gardens and (D)parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made (E)ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 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. 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.

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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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:7 Lit sons
  2. Ecclesiastes 2:11 Lit labored to do