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 sore travail that God hath 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 mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath 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 that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.