8. I also amassed silver and gold for myself,as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces.I acquired male singers and female singers for myself,and what gives a man sensual delight – a harem of beautiful concubines!
9. So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem,yet I maintained my objectivity:
10. I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted;I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure.So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
11. Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplishedand on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it,I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless – like chasing the wind!There is nothing gained from them on earth.”
12. Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas.For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?
13. I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly,just as light is preferable to darkness:
14. The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness.Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.