Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 - Qohelet Introduces His Quest
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven. It is a great tribulation that God has given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten for me great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yea, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.