1. I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure”; and behold, this also was vanity.
2. I said of laughter, “It is foolishness”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
3. I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
4. I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
5. I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
6. I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared.
7. I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem;
8. I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
9. So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
10. Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.
11. Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
12. I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
13. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.