I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.
I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.
So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me... Also my wisdom remained with me.
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 this was my reward from all my labor.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.
Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what can the man do who succeeds the king?; Only what he has already done.
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.