Ecclesiastes 2:4-12

4I also did a lot of great things for myself. I built houses. I planted vineyards.

5I made gardens and fields of trees. I planted many different kinds of fruit trees in them.

6I made large pools of water. I used the water to help my trees to grow well.

7I bought male slaves and female slaves. Their children became my slaves too. I had many animals, including sheep, goats and cows. I had more animals than any of the rulers in Jerusalem who lived before me.

8I stored a lot of silver and gold for myself. Other kings and rulers paid me with many valuable things. I had men and women who would sing for me. I had many beautiful slave wives to give me as much pleasure as any man could want.

9As a result, I was greater than anyone who had ever lived in Jerusalem before me. And I continued to follow the way of wisdom.

10If I saw something that I wanted I took it for myself. If something would give me pleasure, I did it. So all my work made me very happy. My hard work gave me things to enjoy.

11Then I thought about everything that I had done, and all my hard work. After all that, I realized that none of these things had a purpose. I was like somebody who tries to catch the wind. None of the things on earth have any value.

12Then I decided to think about wisdom. I also thought about foolish ways to live. I thought, ‘The next king will not do any more than I have already done.’