Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

New International Reader's Version

⁴So I started some large projects. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards. ⁵I made gardens and parks. I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶I made lakes to water groves of healthy trees. ⁷I bought male and female slaves. And I had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem ever had before. ⁸I stored up silver and gold for myself. I gathered up the treasures of kings and their kingdoms. I got some male and female singers. I also got many women for myself. Women delight the hearts of men. ⁹I became far more important than anyone in Jerusalem had ever been before. And in spite of everything, I didn’t lose my wisdom.

¹⁰I gave myself everything my eyes wanted.
    There wasn’t any pleasure that I refused to give myself.
I took delight in everything I did.
    And that was what I got for all my work.
¹¹But then I looked over everything my hands had done.
    I saw what I had worked so hard to get.
And nothing had any meaning.
    It was like chasing the wind.
    Nothing was gained on this earth.