1I told myself, "Let me try pleasure and enjoyment." But I found that this, too, was meaningless.
2I said about laughter, "It's foolish!" And about pleasure, "What's the point of it?"
3I explored how to cheer myself up with wine while still guiding myself with wisdom. I also considered embracing foolishness until I could see what was truly good for people to do under heaven throughout their lives.
4I undertook great projects. I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
5I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6I built reservoirs to water the groves where trees grew.
7I bought male and female servants. I also had servants who were born in my house. I owned more herds and flocks than anyone before me in Jerusalem.
8I also collected silver and gold for myself, and the treasures of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and all sorts of musical instruments—the delights of humanity.
9So I became great and had more than anyone before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stayed with me.
10I did not deny myself anything I wanted. I never held back from any joy, because my heart found happiness in all my hard work. This was my reward for all my labor.
11Then I looked at everything my hands had done and all the hard work I had put into it. And I realized it was all pointless, like chasing the wind. There was nothing to gain under the sun.
12I decided to think about wisdom, and also about foolishness and craziness. What can the king's successor do? Only what has already been done long ago.
13Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.
14A wise person sees where they are going, but a fool walks in the dark. Yet, I also realized that the same end awaits them all.
15Then I thought to myself, "What happens to a fool will also happen to me. So why was I even wiser?" Then I said in my heart that this too is pointless.
16No one remembers the wise person forever, just like the fool. In the days to come, everyone will be forgotten. Indeed, the wise person must die just like the fool!
17So I hated life, because the work done under the sun seemed painful to me. For it is all pointless, like chasing the wind.
18I hated all the hard work I had done under the sun, because I would have to leave it to the person who comes after me.
19Who knows if that person will be wise or foolish? Yet, they will control all the results of my hard work and the wisdom I showed under the sun. This too is pointless.
20Therefore, my heart began to despair over all the hard work I had done under the sun.
21For someone might work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, yet they must leave all they gained to someone who didn't work for it. This also is pointless and a great wrong.
22What does a person gain from all their hard work and the striving of their heart under the sun?
23All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is full of grief; even at night, their mind can't rest. This is also meaningless.
24There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and enjoy the good things from their work. I also realized that this comes from God's hand.
25For who can eat, or who can enjoy life more than I can?
26God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the person who pleases him. But to the sinner, God gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth, only to give it to the person who pleases God. This is also pointless and like chasing the wind.