1
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoypleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth,Whatdoeth it?
3
I sought in mine heart to give[a]myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heavenall the days of their life.
4
I made me greatworks; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
5
I made me gardens and orchards, and I plantedtrees in them of all kind of fruits:
6
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forthtrees:
7
I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born[b] in my house; also I had greatpossessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalembefore me:
8
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments*, and that of all sorts.
9
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdomremained with me.
10
And whatsoever mine eyesdesired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heartrejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
11
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
12
And I turned myself to beholdwisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that comethafter the king? even that which hath been alreadydone.
13
Then I sawthat[c]wisdomexcellethfolly, as far as lightexcellethdarkness.
14
The wise man'seyes are in his head; but the foolwalketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that oneeventhappeneth to them all.
15
Thensaid I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then morewise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
16
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
17
Therefore I hatedlife; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
18
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken[d] under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
20
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
21
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave[e] it for his portion. This also is vanity and a greatevil.
22
For what hathman of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart,wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
23
For all his days are sorrows, and his travailgrief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
24
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soulenjoygood in his labour.This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
25
For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
26
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sightwisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he givethtravail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is goodbeforeGod. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.