1. I said within myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.” Yet behold, this too was meaningless.
2. I said of laughter, “It is madness!” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
3. I thought deeply about how to cheer my flesh with wine—letting my heart guide me with wisdom—and how to grasp folly, so that I could see what was worthwhile for the sons of men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
4. I increased my possessions. I built myself houses and I planted myself vineyards.
5. I made royal gardens and parks for myself, and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6. I constructed for myself pools of water to irrigate a forest of flourishing trees.
7. I purchased male and female servants and had other servants who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than all my predecessors in Jerusalem.