Qohelet’s Investigation of Personal Accomplishment

⁴ I accomplished great things.^[a] I built for myself houses; I planted for myself vineyards. ⁵ I made for myself gardens and parks, and I planted all sorts of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made for myself pools of water from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. ⁷ I acquired male slaves and female slaves, as well as children born in my house. I also had livestock, cattle, and flocks more than anyone who was before me in Jerusalem. ⁸ I also gathered to myself silver and gold—the royal and provincial treasuries. I acquired for myself male and female singers, as well as the delight of men,^[b] voluptuous concubines.^[c]

⁹ Thus, I accomplished far more^[d] than anyone who was before me in Jerusalem—indeed, my wisdom stood by me. ¹⁰ I neither withheld anything from my eyes that they desired, nor did I deprive any pleasure from my heart. My heart rejoiced in all my toil, for this was my reward from all my toil. ¹¹ Yet when I considered^[e] all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, “Everything is vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!”