Ecclesiastes 2:2-12 Insomuch that I saide vnto the man geuen to laughter, thou art mad: and to mirth, what doest thou

Bishops⁽ⁱ⁾ ² Insomuch that I saide vnto the man geuen to laughter, thou art mad: and to mirth, what doest thou ³ So I thought in my heart to geue my fleshe vnto wine, and agayne to apply my mynde vnto wisdome, and to comprehende foolishnesse: vntyll the tyme that among all the thynges which are vnder the sunne, I myght see what were best for men to do so long as they liue vnder heauen ⁴ I made gorgious faire workes: I builded my houses, and planted vineyardes ⁵ I made me orchardes and gardens of pleasure, and planted trees in them of all maner of fruites ⁶ I made pooles of water, to water the greene and fruitfull trees withall ⁷ I bought seruauntes and maydens, and had a great housholde: As for cattel and sheepe, I had more substaunce of them then all they that were before me in Hierusalem ⁸ I gathered together siluer and golde, and the chiefe treasures of kynges and landes: I haue prouided me men singgers and women singers, and the delites of the sonnes of men, as a woman taken captiue, and women taken captiues ⁹ And I was greater and in more worship then all my predecessours in Hierusalem: For wisdome remayned with me ¹⁰ And loke whatsoeuer myne eyes desired, I let them haue it: and wherin soeuer my heart delited or had any pleasure, I withhelde it not from it: Thus my heart reioyced in all that I did, and this was my portion of all my trauayle ¹¹ But when I considered all the workes that my handes had wrought, and all the labour that I had taken therin: lo all was but vanitie and vexation of mynde, and nothing of any value vnder the sunne ¹² Then turned I me to consider wisdome, errour, and foolishnesse (for what is he among men that myght be compared to me the kyng in such workes?