rsv Ecclesiastes:2:1-11 SEEK
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I said to myself , "
Come now ,
I will make a test of pleasure ;
enjoy yourself ."
But behold ,
this also was vanity .
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I said of laughter , "
It is mad ,"
and of pleasure , "
What use is it ?"
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I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine--my mind still guiding me 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 during the few days of their life .
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I made great works ;
I built houses and planted vineyards for myself ;
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I made myself gardens and parks ,
and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees .
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I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees .
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I bought male and female slaves ,
and had slaves who were born in my house ;
I had also great possessions of herds and flocks ,
more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem .
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I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces ;
I got singers ,
both men and women ,
and many concubines ,
man '
s delight .
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So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem ;
also my wisdom remained with me .
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And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them ;
I kept my heart from no pleasure ,
for my heart found pleasure in all my toil ,
and this was my reward for all my toil .
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Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it ,
and behold ,
all was vanity and a striving after wind ,
and there was nothing to be gained under the sun .