I am ready to listen. Ready to apply what that lovely voice is crying about. What about you dear fellow inhabitant of this so loved world? That lovely voice cries out, quote:
I SAID in my mind, Come now, I will prove you with mirth and test you with pleasure; so have a good time [enjoy pleasure]. But this also was vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)! [Luk 12:19-20]
I said of laughter, It is mad, and of pleasure, What does it accomplish?
I searched in my mind how to cheer my body with wine—yet at the same time having my mind hold its course and guide me with [human] wisdom—and how to lay hold of folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
I made great works; I built myself houses, I planted vineyards. I made for myself gardens and orchards and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.
I made for myself pools of water from which to water the forest and make the trees bud.
I bought menservants and maidservants and had servants born in my house.
Also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.
I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces.
I got for myself men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men—concubines very many. [1Ki 9:28; 1Ki 10:10, 1Ki 10:14, 1Ki 10:21]
So I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.
Also my wisdom remained with me and stood by me.
And whatever my eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion and reward for all my toil.
