1. I said to myself, “I will try having fun. I will enjoy myself.” But I found that this is also useless.
2. It is foolish to laugh all the time. Having fun gets nothing done.
3. I decided to cheer myself up with wine. At the same time my mind was still thinking wisely. I wanted to find a way to enjoy myself. I wanted to see what was good for people to do during their few days of life.
4. Then I did great things. I built houses, and I planted vineyards for myself.
5. I planted gardens, and I made parks. I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6. I made pools of water for myself. And I used them to water my growing trees.
7. I bought men and women slaves. Slaves were also born in my house. I had large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep. I had more than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
8. I also gathered silver and gold for myself. I took treasures from kings and other areas. I had men and women singers. I had all the wives a man could ever want.
9. I became very famous. I was greater than anyone who had lived in Jerusalem before me. My wisdom helped me in all this.