1 I x said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I y said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" 3 I z searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine - my heart still guiding me with wisdom - and how to lay hold on a folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4 I made great works. I b built houses and planted c vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself d gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had e slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of f herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and g gold and the treasure of h kings and i provinces. I got j singers, both men and women, and many k concubines, 1 the delight of the children of man.
9 So I became great and l surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my l wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart m found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my n reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was o vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing p to be gained under the sun.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.