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.
5. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.