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 seek and to search out in wisdom concerning all which was done under the heavens: this evil business God gave to the sons of man to be occupied in it ¹⁴ I saw all the works they did under the sun; and behold, all vanity and striving of the spirit

¹⁵ The crooked thing shall not be able to be made straight: and the deficiency shall not be able to be numberd

¹⁶ It spake with my heart, saying, Behold, I was magnified, and added wisdom over all that were before me at Jerusalem: and my heart saw much of wisdom and knowledge. ¹⁷ And I will give my heart to know wisdom, and the knowledge of praise and understanding: I knew this also it is the striving of the spirit

¹⁸ For in abundance of wisdom, abundance of trouble: and he adding knowledge will increase pain.