I made my works great, I built myself (A)houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to [a]water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had [b]servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. (B)I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and [c]musical instruments of all kinds.

(C)So I became great and [d]excelled (D)more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;
And (E)this was my [e]reward from all my labor.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:6 irrigate
  2. Ecclesiastes 2:7 Lit. sons of my house
  3. Ecclesiastes 2:8 Exact meaning unknown
  4. Ecclesiastes 2:9 Lit. increased
  5. Ecclesiastes 2:10 Lit. portion

I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself(A) and planted vineyards.(B) I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves(C) who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold(D) for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.(E) I acquired male and female singers,(F) and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem(G) before me.(H) In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
    I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
    and this was the reward for all my toil.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:8 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.