Ecclesiastes 2:1-12

¹I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove you with mirth, and behold you good: and, behold, this is also vanity.

²I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why do you this:

³And I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life.

⁴I enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards.

⁵I made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them every kind of fruit tree.

⁶I made me pools of water, to water from them the timber-bearing wood.

⁷I got servants and maidens, and servants were born to me in the house: also I had abundant possession of flocks and herds, beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem.

⁸Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers.

⁹So I became great, and advanced beyond all that were before in Jerusalem: also my wisdom was established to me.

¹⁰And whatever my eyes desired, I withheld not from them, I withheld not my heart from all my mirth: for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my portion of all my labor.

¹¹And I looked on all my works which my hands had wrought, and on my labor which I laboured to perform: and behold, all was vanity and waywardness of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun.

¹²Then I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the man who will follow after counsel, in all things where in he employs it?