Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 2
What Good Is It To Be Successful?[a] 1 Then I said to myself, “All right, I will pursue pleasure and the enjoyment of good things.” However, this also proved to be vanity. 2 I regarded laughter as madness and pleasure as vanity. 3 Then, while my mind was guiding me with wisdom, I sought to cheer my body with wine and the pursuit of folly, for I was determined to discover what was the best way for men to spend the few days of their life under the heavens.[b]
4 I undertook grandiose projects. I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made for myself gardens and parks and filled them with every kind of fruit tree. 6 I developed pools that would enable me to water my grove of growing trees.
7 I purchased male and female slaves, and slaves were also born in my house. In addition, I had large herds and flocks, far more than any who had preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 I amassed for myself silver and gold and the treasures of kings and provinces. I acquired singers, both male and female, and every possible human luxury.[c] 9 In this way I became great, and I surpassed all my predecessors in Jerusalem, while my wisdom continued to strengthen me.
10 I did not deny my eyes anything that they coveted,
nor did I deprive my heart of any pleasure.
For I found delight in all my labors,
and this was the reward I had for all my efforts.
11 However, once I began to reflect on all that my hands had accomplished
and the effort I had exerted in achieving it,
I again came to the realization that everything was vanity and a chase after the wind,
and that there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 2:1 Here is a complete experience of life. Nothing is lacking to Qoheleth, neither free spontaneity, nor the rapture of joys and pleasures, nor wisdom itself. He enjoys the best of relationships, and his goods superabound.
- Ecclesiastes 2:3 Under the guidance of wisdom, the author tries all manner of things to discover what is good and worthwhile for himself—i.e., what leads to happiness.
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 And every possible human luxury: the meaning of the Hebrew here is uncertain. Other possible translations are: “and delights of the heart, and many concubines.” All this is in keeping with the reputation of Solomon, who is said to have acquired seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Ki 11:3).
