Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 2
² So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?”
³ After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.
⁴ I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards.
⁵ I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees.
⁶ I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves.
⁷ I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me.
⁸ I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!
⁹ So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me.
¹⁰ Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors.
¹¹ But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
¹² So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?).