Pleasures Are Meaningless
I thought in my heart, " Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. " Laughter, " I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly--my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves that were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I aquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man. I became greater than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing that my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all of my work, and this was the reward for all of my labor. Yet when I had seen all that my hands have done and what I had worked to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
I thought in my heart, " Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. " Laughter, " I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly--my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves that were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I aquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man. I became greater than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing that my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all of my work, and this was the reward for all of my labor. Yet when I had seen all that my hands have done and what I had worked to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11