The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I told myself, "I have become greater and wiser than anyone who ruled before me in Jerusalem yes, I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge."

I acquired male and female slaves, and had other slaves born in my house. I also acquired for myself increasing numbers of herds and flocks more than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem.

So I became great, greater than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. Throughout all of this, I remained wise.