Ecclesiastes 2:1-8

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

²I said to laughter, Madness: And to mirth, Why doest thou 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.