Ecclesiastes 2:1-12
I thought to myself,“ Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.” But I found that it also is futile.I said of partying,“ It is folly,” and of self-indulgent pleasure,“ It accomplishes nothing!”I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine( all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock– both herds and flocks– than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight– a harem of beautiful concubines!So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“ All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?
1 Kings 4 21-1 Kings 4 24
( 5: 1) Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms paid tribute as Solomon’s subjects throughout his lifetime.Each day Solomon’s royal court consumed thirty cors of finely milled flour, sixty cors of cereal,ten calves fattened in the stall, twenty calves from the pasture, and a hundred sheep, not to mention rams, gazelles, deer, and well-fed birds.His royal court was so large because he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza; he was at peace with all his neighbors.
