1
I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity.
2
I said of laughter--"Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
3
I searched in my heart how 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 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 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 water the growing trees of the grove.
7
I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
8
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 musical instruments of all kinds.
9
So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
10
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 this was my reward from all my labor.
11
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 vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.
12
Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what can the man do who succeeds the king?-- Only what he has already done.
13
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.
14
The wise man's eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all.