Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 - Qohelet Introduces His Quest
12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I dedicated myself to using wisdom for study and discovery of everything that is done under heaven. God uses terrible things so human beings will struggle with life. 14 I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless like chasing after the wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight; what is not there cannot be counted.
16 I told myself, "I have become greater and wiser than anyone who ruled before me in Jerusalem yes, I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge." 17 So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and knowledge, and about insanity and foolishness. And I discovered that this is also like chasing after the wind.
18 For with much wisdom there is much sorrow; the more someone adds to knowledge, the more someone adds to grief.