The Vanity of Self-Indulgence
Ecclesiastes 2
1 I said a in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with b mirth; 1 therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, c this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter - "Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" 3 d I searched in my heart how 2 to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was e good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4 I made my works great, I built myself f houses, and planted myself vineyards. 5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made myself water pools from which to 3 water the growing trees of the grove. 7 I acquired male and female servants, and had 4 servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. 8 g I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and 5 musical instruments 6 of all kinds.
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h So I became great and 7 excelled i more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
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Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;
And j this was my 8 reward from all my labor.
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Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was k vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.