Queen's Road Cell

  18  I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19  and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20  So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21  because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22  What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23  For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity. 24  There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 2...

  I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2  I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3  I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4  I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5  I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6  I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7  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. 8  I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and m...