1 I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy good things; and, behold, this also is vanity.
2 I said of laughter, It is mad, and of mirth, What does it do?
3 I proposed in my heart to regale my flesh with wine and that my heart would walk in wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
4 I made myself great works; I built myself houses; I planted myself vineyards;
5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits;
6 I made myself pools of water, to water with them the forest that brings forth trees;
7 I got myself slaves and maidens and had sons born in my house; also I had great possessions of cattle and sheep above all that were in Jerusalem before me;