1 ¶ I said to myself, Come now, I will test you with pleasure, and enjoy what is good: but that also was futile.

2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of pleasure, What does it accomplish?

3 I tried to find out if I could cheer myself with wine, yet with my mind still wisely in control; and take hold of foolishness, till I could see what is best for the sons of men to do, under heaven all the days of their life.

4 I increased my achievements; I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself:

5 I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them every kind of fruit tree:

6 I made pools of water, to water a park of growing trees:

7 I acquired servants and maids, and had servants born in my house; I also owned many cattle and sheep more than all who were in Jerusalem before me:

8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold, and the treasures of kings and of the provinces: I gathered male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

9 So I became great, and grew richer than any who were in Jerusalem before me: and my wisdom remained with me.

10 I did not deny my eyes anything they desired, I did not withhold from my heart any pleasure; for my heart rejoiced in all that I did: and that was what I got for all my work.

11 Then I considered all the things that I had accomplished, and all the labor that I had spent doing it: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was nothing gained under the sun.

12 ¶ So I turned to examine wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the man do who succeeds the king? nothing but that which has been already done.

13 Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolishness, as much as light is better than darkness.

14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: yet I also realized that both come to the same end.

15 Then I said in my heart, What happens to the fool, also happens to me; what then is the good of me being wiser? So I concluded, that this also is vanity.

16 For people do not continue to remember a wise man or a fool; in the days to come both will be forgotten. The wise man must die as must the fool.

17 ¶ Therefore I hated life; because all the work that is done under the sun is grievous to me: for it is all vanity and vexation of spirit.

18 Yes, I hated all the work that I had done under the sun: because I must leave it to the man who will replace me.

19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet he will take control of everything under the sun for which I worked and exercised my wisdom. This also is vanity.

20 Then I started to despair concerning everything that I had worked for under the sun.

21 For there is a man who has worked hard with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he will leave it to a man that has not worked for it as his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

22 For what does a man get for all his work, and for the vexation of heart, with which he has labored under the sun?

23 For all his days are painful, and his work is troublesome; yea, his mind cannot even rest at night. This is also vanity.

24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and let himself enjoy the good he has worked for. I also saw, that this comes from the hand of God.

25 For apart from God, who can eat, or enjoy life?

26 For God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the person who pleases him: but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and amassing wealth, that he may turn it over to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.