Ecclesiastes or Preacher 02 Pleasures and Riches Do Not Bring Happiness

 Ecclesiastes or Preacher 02

Pleasures and Riches Do Not Bring Happiness

1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure." But behold, this also was vanity.

2 Of laughter I said, "You are mad!" And of mirth, "What good is this?"

3 I searched in my heart how I might indulge in wine (but ruling my heart with wisdom), and how I might restrain folly, until I might see what would be good for the children of man to do under heaven during the number of the days of their life.

4 I made myself magnificent works: I built myself houses; I planted myself vineyards.

5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted in them trees of every kind of fruit.

6 I made myself pools of water to water the grove, wherein the trees were green.

7 I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house; I also had a great possession of herds and flocks, more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.

8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold, and jewels from kings and from the provinces; I provided myself with male and female singers, with the delights of the sons of men, and with musical instruments of all kinds.

9 And I became great and increased more than all who heard before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also continued with me.

10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not withhold, nor did I withhold my heart from any joy; but my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion in all my labor.

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had toiled to do, and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. 

12 Then I turned to the consideration of wisdom, madness, and folly. For what will the man who follows the king do? The same as others have done.

13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as light excels darkness.

14 The eyes of the wise are in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Then I also understood that the same thing happens to them all.

15 Therefore I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so it will happen to me." Why then did I seek wisdom more? Then I said in my heart, "This also is vanity."

16 For the wise will never be remembered more than the fool, for in the days to come everything will be forgotten. And as the wise die, so dies the fool!

17 Therefore I hated this life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me; yes, all is vanity and a vexation of spirit. 

18 I also hated all my labor in which I toiled under the sun, because I would have to leave it to the man who would come after me.

19 And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will have dominion over all my labor in which I toiled, and in which I have shown myself wisely under the sun; this also is vanity.

20 Therefore I have set my heart on despairing of all the labor in which I have toiled under the sun.

21 For there is a man whose labor is done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet to a man who has not labored at it, he will leave it as his portion; this also is vanity and great grief.

22 For what has a man more of all his labor and the toil of his heart in which he labors under the sun?

23 For all his days are sorrow, and his toil is grief; even at night his heart is at rest. This also is vanity.

24 Is it not good for a man to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in his labor? This also I have seen from the hand of God.

25 (For who can eat, or who can enjoy more than I?)

26 For to a man who is good in his sight, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives labor, to gather and heap up, and to give to the good in his sight. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.