Ecclesiastes 2:1-12

¹So then I thought to myself, “Alright, let me examine pleasure and see how good that is.” But this too turned out to be something temporary that passes.

²I conclude that laughing your way through life is stupid, and pleasure—what use is that?

³Then I used my mind to examine the attraction of wine to my body. My mind still guiding me with wisdom, I took it until I acted like a fool, so that I might see whether this was good for people to do during their time here.

⁴Then I tried great construction projects. I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

⁵I made for myself gardens and parks, planting them with all kinds of fruit trees.

⁶I constructed for myself reservoirs to water all these growing trees.

⁷I bought male and female slaves, and their children also belonged to me. I also owned many herds and flocks, more than anyone in Jerusalem before me.

⁸I collected for myself great quantities of silver and gold, paid to me as tribute by kings and provinces. I brought in for myself male and female singers, and enjoyed many concubines—all a man could want!

⁹I became great—greater than anyone in Jerusalem before me. All the while my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰I didn't stop myself trying anything I wanted. Whatever I felt like enjoying, I did. I even enjoyed everything I had accomplished, a reward for all my work.

¹¹But when I thought about what I had worked so hard to achieve, everything I'd done, it was so short-lived—as significant as someone trying to catch the wind. There really is no enduring benefit here on earth.

¹²So I started to think about wisdom—and madness and foolishness. For what can anyone who comes after the king do that hasn't already been done?