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I came to my garden alone
But all of my flowers were gone
There in their Stead
Was a new flowerbed
Bearing seeds that I hadn’t sown
©copyright 2023 by Gene Strother
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!”
But it proved to be futile.
I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly””my mind still guiding me with wisdom””until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.
I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me, and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men””many concubines.
So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me. Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2