Study Desk

I said ^(F1)to myself, "Come now, I will test you with ^(C1)pleasure. So ^(F2)enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility.

^(C1)I said of laughter, "It is senseless," and of pleasure, "What does this accomplish?"

I explored with my ^(F1)mind how to ^(C1)refresh my body with wine while my ^(F1)mind was guiding me wisely; and how to seize ^(C2)foolishness, until I could see ^(C3)what good there is for the sons of mankind ^(F2)to do under heaven for the few ^(F3)years of their lives.

I enlarged my works: I ^(C1)built houses for myself, I planted ^(C2)vineyards for myself;

I made ^(C1)gardens and ^(C2)parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;

I made ^(C1)ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.

I bought male and female slaves, and I had ^(F1)(C1)slaves born at home. I also possessed flocks and ^(C2)herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.

I also amassed for myself silver and ^(C1)gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself ^(C2)male and female singers, and the pleasures of the sons of mankind: many concubines.

Then I became ^(C1)great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.

^(C1)All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my ^(C2)reward for all my labor.

So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had ^(F1)exerted, and behold, all was ^(C1)futility and striving after wind, and there was ^(C2)no benefit under the sun.