1. I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.’ But that also proved to be meaningless.
2. ‘Laughter,’ I said, ‘is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?’
3. I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly – my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
4. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.