Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 - Qohelet's Investigation Of Personal Accomplishment

⁴ I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards. ⁵ I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit. ⁶ I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees. ⁷ I got men-servants, and maid-servants, and sons of the house were to me; also, I had much substance -- herd and flock -- above all who had been before me in Jerusalem. ⁸ I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives. ⁹ And I became great, and increased above every one who had been before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stood with me. ¹⁰ And all that mine eyes asked I kept not back from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this hath been my portion, from all my labour, ¹¹ and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labour that I have laboured to do, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun!