I made my works great, I built myself (A)houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to [a]water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had [b]servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. (B)I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and [c]musical instruments of all kinds.

(C)So I became great and [d]excelled (D)more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;
And (E)this was my [e]reward from all my labor.
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was (F)vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:6 irrigate
  2. Ecclesiastes 2:7 Lit. sons of my house
  3. Ecclesiastes 2:8 Exact meaning unknown
  4. Ecclesiastes 2:9 Lit. increased
  5. Ecclesiastes 2:10 Lit. portion

I made me great work, I builded me houses, I planted me vineyards.

I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.

I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees.

I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house. Also I had great possessions of great and small cattle, above all that were in Jerusalem before me.

I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments, and those of all sorts.

So I was great and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Read full chapter