Ecclesiastes 2:1-13

1I saidH559 in mine heartH3820, Go to nowH3212, I will proveH5254 thee with mirthH8057, therefore enjoyH7200 pleasureH2896: and, behold, this also is vanityH1892. 2I saidH559 of laughterH7814, It is madH1984: and of mirthH8057, WhatH2090 doethH6213 it? 3I soughtH8446 in mine heartH3820 to giveH4900 myselfH1320 unto wineH3196, yet acquaintingH5090 mine heartH3820 with wisdomH2451; and to lay holdH270 on follyH5531, till I might seeH7200 what was that goodH2896 for the sonsH1121 of menH120, which they should doH6213 under the heavenH8064 allH4557 the daysH3117 of their lifeH2416.12 4I made me greatH1431 worksH4639; I buildedH1129 me housesH1004; I plantedH5193 me vineyardsH3754: 5I madeH6213 me gardensH1593 and orchardsH6508, and I plantedH5193 treesH6086 in them of all kind of fruitsH6529: 6I madeH6213 me poolsH1295 of waterH4325, to waterH8248 therewith the woodH3293 that bringeth forthH6779 treesH6086: 7I gotH7069 me servantsH5650 and maidensH8198, and had servants bornH1121 in my houseH1004; also I had greatH7235 possessionsH4735 of greatH1241 and small cattleH6629 above all that were in JerusalemH3389 beforeH6440 me:3 8I gatheredH3664 me also silverH3701 and goldH2091, and the peculiar treasureH5459 of kingsH4428 and of the provincesH4082: I gatH6213 me men singersH7891 and women singersH7891, and the delightsH8588 of the sonsH1121 of menH120, as musical instrumentsH7705, and that of all sorts.4 9So I was greatH1431, and increasedH3254 more than all that were beforeH6440 me in JerusalemH3389: also my wisdomH2451 remainedH5975 with me. 10And whatsoever mine eyesH5869 desiredH7592 I keptH680 not from them, I withheldH4513 not my heartH3820 from any joyH8057; for my heartH3820 rejoicedH8056 in all my labourH5999: and this was my portionH2506 of all my labourH5999. 11Then I lookedH6437 on all the worksH4639 that my handsH3027 had wroughtH6213, and on the labourH5999 that I had labouredH5998 to doH6213: and, behold, all was vanityH1892 and vexationH7469 of spiritH7307, and there was no profitH3504 under the sunH8121.

12And I turnedH6437 myself to beholdH7200 wisdomH2451, and madnessH1947, and follyH5531: for what can the manH120 do that comethH935 afterH310 the kingH4428? even that which hath been alreadyH3528 doneH6213.5 13Then I sawH7200 thatH3426 wisdomH2451 excellethH3504 follyH5531, as far as lightH216 excellethH3504 darknessH2822.6