Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

The Vanity of Wisdom

12 I, the ^aPreacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I ^agave my heart to seek and ^bexplore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is ¹a grievous ^cendeavor which God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. 14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is ¹^avanity and striving after wind. 15 What is ^abent cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I spoke within my heart, saying, “Behold, I have magnified and increased ^awisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my heart has seen an abundance of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I ^agave my heart to know wisdom and to ^bknow madness and simpleminded folly; I came to know that this also is ^cstriving after wind. 18 Because ^ain much wisdom there is much vexation, and whoever increases knowledge increases pain.