Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 - Qohelet Introduces His Quest

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ And I gave my heart to searching out in wisdom all things which are done under heaven: it is a hard thing which God has put on the sons of men to do. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

¹⁵ That which is bent may not be made straight, and that which is not there may not be numbered.

¹⁶ I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem--yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge. ¹⁷ And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.

¹⁸ Because in much wisdom is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow.