1. I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things. And I saw that this also was vanity.
2. Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived?
3. I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.
4. I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards,
5. I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all kinds,
6. And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the young trees,
7. I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great family: and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep, above all that were before me in Jerusalem:
8. I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine:
9. And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my wisdom also remained with me.
10. And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and delighting itself in the things which I had prepared: and esteemed this my portion, to make use of my own labour.
11. And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun.
12. I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I, that he can follow the King his maker?)
13. And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness.
14. The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike.
15. And I said in my heart: If the death of the fool and mine shall be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied myself more to the study of wisdom? And speaking with my own mind, I perceived that this also was vanity.