^{1 Ref} I said in my heart, I will give you joy for a test; so take your pleasure--but it was to no purpose.

^{2 Ref} Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy--What use is it?

^{3 Ref} I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life.

^{4 Ref} I undertook great works, building myself houses and planting vine-gardens.

^{5 Ref} I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts.

^{6 Ref} I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees.

^{7 Ref} I got men-servants and women-servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me.

^{8 Ref} I got together silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I got makers of song, male and female; and the delights of the sons of men--girls of all sorts to be my brides.

^{9 Ref} And I became great; increasing more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom was still with me.

^{10 Ref} And nothing which was desired by my eyes did I keep from them; I did not keep any joy from my heart, because my heart took pleasure in all my work, and this was my reward.

^{11 Ref} Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

^{12 Ref} And I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What may the man do who comes after the king? The thing which he has done before.