Ecclesiastes 2:1-7

1 I said to myself, Come, I will make you experience pleasure; enjoy what is good! But this too was pointless!
2 Merriment, I thought, is madness; pleasure, of no use at all.
3 I tried cheering myself with wine and by embracing folly—with wisdom still guiding me—until I might see what is really worth doing in the few days that human beings have under heaven.
4 I took on great projects: I built houses for myself, planted vineyards for myself.
5 I made gardens and parks for myself, planting every kind of fruit tree in them.
6 I made reservoirs for myself to water my lush groves.
7 I acquired male servants and female servants; I even had slaves born in my house. I also had great herds of cattle and sheep, more than any who preceded me in Jerusalem.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or in my heart; mind
  • [b]. Or the self (or heart; mind)
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