1 I said ^ain my heart, “Come now, I will test you with ^bmirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, ^cthis also was vanity.  ‡

2 I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”

3 ^aI searched in my heart how¹ 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 ^bgood for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.  ‡

4 I made my works great, I built myself ^ahouses, and planted myself vineyards.  ‡

5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.