Solomon, in the prime of his wealth and power, tested himself with mirth and pleasure, seeking satisfaction through enjoyment. He declared in his heart to pursue pleasure, yet quickly concluded it was vanity, like grasping for the wind, futile and unprofitable, leaving him empty with nothing to show for his efforts. He called laughter madness and questioned what mirth accomplishes, labeling the pursuit of pleasure for its own sake as insanity and a total waste of precious time. In his unrestrained living, he drank gallons of wine and partied excessively, indulging in every desire of his heart with no one to restrain him. Yet, when he reflected on all his frenzied activities, he found them to be vanity, with no lasting gain or advantage in the things that truly matter. Life, he grimly stated, became hateful to him, for all his work and pleasure produced only sorrow and achieved nothing without God. He realized that it is God who brings real meaning to pleasure and joy, and without Him, these pursuits are essentially worthless and will perish. Solomon concluded that true satisfaction comes only from a life lived under the guiding hand of God, where one can eat, drink, and enjoy good in their labor as a gift from Him. Any other way of life, he found, is useless and unproductive.

In the culture of Israel, as described, there are people who, in the strength of their youth and the glory of their power, engage in partying while ignoring the surrounding decline. This behavior reflects a complacency and failure to react appropriately to the problems within their society, contributing to greater violence. The very act of doing little or nothing to extend their good health or preserve their strength demonstrates their carelessness, as they disregard the evident consequences seen in others who have aged poorly.

Solomon, in his pursuit of meaning, indulged himself in pleasure and having a good time, as many desire, especially the young. He plunged into partying, spending time in crowds where laughter and folly reigned, often accompanied by drinking and silliness. He approached this lifestyle with all his might, yet retained his mind, always evaluating the cause and effect of his actions. However, he discovered that this approach to life was temporary and meaningless, unable to quench the spiritual thirst for purpose that every human being possesses. Specifically, he noted that laughter, associated with partying, was sheer madness, offering no lasting value beyond a fleeting moment of feeling good. Solomon's conclusion serves as a warning against envying those who seem to enjoy such pleasures, revealing that even under the best circumstances, pursuing partying and fleeting joys does not lift one out of earthbound frustration or provide enduring satisfaction.