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 search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this grievous occupation hath God given to the children of men to weary themselves therewith. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the 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 become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge. ¹⁷ And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind.

¹⁸ For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.