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, and having fun doesn't accomplish anything.
3. I decided to cheer myself up with wine while my mind was still thinking wisely. I wanted to find a way to enjoy myself and see what was good for people to do during their few days of life.
4. Then I did great things: I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
5. I made gardens and parks, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6. I made pools of water for myself and used them to water my growing trees.
7. I bought male and female slaves, and slaves were also born in my house. I had large herds and flocks, more than anyone in Jerusalem had ever had before.
8. I also gathered silver and gold for myself, treasures from kings and other areas. I had male and female singers and all the women a man could ever want.