Coverdale(i)
2 in so moch that I sayde vnto laughter: thou art madd, and to myrth: what doest thou?
3 So I thought in my herte, to withdrawe my flesh from wyne, to applye my mynde vnto wy?dome, and to comprehede foolishnes vntill the tyme that (amonge all ye thinges which are vnder ye Sonne) I might se what were best for men to do, so longe as they lyue vnder heauen.
4 I made gorgious fayre workes, I buylded me houses, and planted vynyardes:
5 I made me ortchardes and gardens of pleasure, and planted trees in them of all maner frutes.
6 I made poles of water, to water ye grene and frutefull trees withall.
7 I bought seruauntes and maydes, and had a greate housholde. As for catell and shepe, I had more substaunce of them, then all they yt were before me in Ierusalem.
8 I gathered syluer & golde together, euen a treasure of kynges & londes. I prouided me syngers and wome which coude playe of instrumentes, to make men myrth and pastime. I gat me drynkynge cuppes also and glasses.
9 (Shortly) I was greater & in more worshipe, then all my predecessours in Ierusale. For wy?dome remayned with me:
10 & loke what so euer myne eyes desyred, I let them haue it: & wherin so euer my herte delyted or had eny pleasure, I with helde it not fro it. Thus my hert reioysed in all yt I dyd, and this I toke for the porcion of all my trauayle.
11 But whan I considered all the workes yt my handes had wrought, and all the labours that I had taken therin: lo, all was but vanite and vexacion of mynde, & nothinge of eny value vnder ye Sonne.
12 Then turned I me to considre wy?dome, erroure and foolishnesse (for what is he amonge men, that might be compared to me ye kynge in soch workes?)