1-3. I said to myself, “Let’s go for it—experiment with pleasure, have a good time!” But there was nothing to it, nothing but smoke.What do I think of the fun-filled life? Insane! Inane!My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it?With the help of a bottle of wineand all the wisdom I could muster,I tried my level bestto penetrate the absurdity of life.I wanted to get a handle on anything useful we mortals might doduring the years we spend on this earth.
4-8. Oh, I did great things:built houses,planted vineyards,designed gardens and parksand planted a variety of fruit trees in them,made pools of waterto irrigate the groves of trees.I bought slaves, male and female,who had children, giving me even more slaves;then I acquired large herds and flocks,larger than any before me in Jerusalem.I piled up silver and gold,loot from kings and kingdoms.I gathered a chorus of singers to entertain me with song,and—most exquisite of all pleasures—voluptuous maidens for my bed.
9-10. Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What’s more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day’s work!