Ecclesiastes 2:5-12

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?