The Futility of Pleasure
The Teacher resolves to test himself with pleasure, but laughter quickly proves superficial and pleasure proves unable to accomplish what he seeks. Even his experiment with wine and measured folly remains governed by wisdom, because he is searching for what is truly worthwhile in the few days of human life.
I1 said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” 2I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” 3I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly— my mind still guiding me with wisdom— until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
He expands his life with houses, vineyards, gardens, reservoirs, servants, herds, silver, gold, singers, and many delights. The piling up of cultivated beauty, social power, and sensual pleasure shows how fully he explores what privilege and prosperity can offer.
4I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees. 6I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees. 7I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me, 8and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men — many concubines.
The Teacher becomes greater than any before him in Jerusalem, keeping his wisdom while denying himself nothing his eyes desire. Yet when he steps back to assess all his work and enjoyment, he finds no lasting gain in it, only futility and pursuit of the wind.
9So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me. 10Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 11Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.