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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 2:7 Lit sons
- Ecclesiastes 2:11 Lit labored to do
Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
International Standard Version
A Testimony to Extravagant Works
4 With respect to my extravagant works, I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. 5 I constructed gardens and orchards for myself, and within them I planted all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built for myself water reservoirs to irrigate forests that produce trees.
A Testimony to Extravagant Possessions
7 I acquired male and female slaves, and had other slaves born in my house. I also acquired for myself increasing numbers of herds and flocks—more than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also accumulated silver, gold, and the wealth of kings and their kingdoms. I gathered around me both male and female singers, along with what delights a man—all sorts of mistresses.
A Testimony to Extravagant Position
9 So I became great, greater than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. Throughout all of this, I remained wise. 10 Whenever I wanted something I had seen, I never refused that desire. Instead, I enjoyed everything I did, and this became the reward in what I had undertaken. 11 Then I examined all of my accomplishments that I had brought about by my own efforts, including the work that I had labored so hard to complete—and it was all pointless, like chasing after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained on earth.
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