Ecclesiastes 2:1-13

1I said 1to myself, “Come now, I will test you with 2pleasure. So 3enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. 24I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” 3I explored with my 5mind how to 6stimulate my body with wine while my 7mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of 8folly, until I could see 9what good there is for the sons of men 10to do under heaven the few 11years of their lives. 4I enlarged my works: I 12built houses for myself, I planted 13vineyards for myself; 5I made 14gardens and 15parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6I made 16ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7I bought male and female slaves and I had 1718homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and 19herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8Also, I collected for myself silver and 20gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself 21male and female singers and the pleasures of men--many concubines.

9Then I became 22great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 1023All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my 24reward for all my labor. 11Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had 25exerted, and behold all was 2627vanity and striving after wind and there was 28no profit under the sun.

12So I turned to 29consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except 30what has already been done? 13And I saw that 31wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.