Ecclesiastes 2:4-18

4I made me greatH1431 worksH4639; I builded me housesH1004; I plantedH5193 me vineyardsH3754; 5I madeH6213 me gardensH1593 and parks, and I plantedH5193 treesH6086 in them of all kinds of fruitH6529; 6I madeH6213 me poolsH1295 of waterH4325, to waterH4325 therefrom the forestH3293 where treesH6086 were reared; 7I boughtH7069 men-servants and maid-servants, and had servantsH5650 born in my houseH1004; alsoH1571 I had great possessions of herdsH1241 and flocksH6629, above all that wereH1961 before me in JerusalemH3389; 8I gatheredH3664 me alsoH1571 silverH3701 and goldH2091, and the treasureH5459 of kingsH4428 and of the provincesH4082; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sonsH1121 of menH120, musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9So I wasH1961 greatH1431, and increasedH3254 more than all that wereH1961 before me in JerusalemH3389: alsoH637 my wisdomH2451 remained with me. 10And whatsoever mine eyesH5869 desired I kept not from them; I withheldH4513 not my heartH3820 from any joyH8057; for my heartH3820 rejoicedH8055 because of all my laborH5999; and this wasH1961 my portionH2506 from all my laborH5999. 11Then I looked on all the worksH4639 that my handsH3027 had wrought, and on the laborH5999 that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanityH1892 and a striving after windH7307, and there was no profitH3504 under the sunH8121.

12And I turnedH6437 myself to behold wisdomH2451, and madnessH1947, and follyH5531: for whatcanthe manH120dothat cometh after the kingH4428? even that which hath been done long ago. 13Then I sawH7200 that wisdomH2451 excelleth follyH5531, as far as lightH216 excelleth darknessH2822. 14The wiseH2450 man’s eyesH5869 are in his headH7218, and the foolH3684 walketh in darknessH2822: and yet I perceived that oneH259 event happeneth to them all. 15ThenH227 saidH559 I in my heartH3820, As it happeneth to the foolH3684, so will it happen even to me; and whyH4100 was I thenH227 more wiseH2449? ThenH227 saidH559 I in my heartH3820, that this alsoH1571 is vanityH1892. 16For of the wiseH2450 man, even as of the foolH3684, there is no remembranceH2146 for everH5769; seeing that in the daysH3117 to comeH935 all will have been long forgottenH7911. And howH349 doth the wiseH2450 man dieH4191 even as the foolH3684! 17So I hatedH8130 lifeH2416, because the workH4639 that is wrought under the sunH8121 was grievous unto me; for all is vanityH1892 and a striving after windH7307.

18And I hatedH8130 all my laborH5999 wherein I labored under the sunH8121, seeing that I must leave it unto the manH120 that shall beH1961 after me.