1
I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, and behold thou good: and, behold, this is also vanity.
2
I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why doest thou this:
3
And I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as wine, (though my heart guided in wisdom,) and to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life.
4
I enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards.
5
I made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them every kind of fruit-tree.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.