The Futility of Wisdom

¹² I, the ^(A)Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ And I ^(B)set my ^[a]mind to seek and ^(C)explore by wisdom about everything that has been done under heaven. It is a ^[b](D)sorry task with which God has given the sons of mankind to be troubled. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is ^(E)futility and striving after wind. ¹⁵ What is ^(F)crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

²⁴ There is ^(A)nothing better for a person than to eat and drink, and show ^[a]himself some good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is ^(B)from the hand of God. ²⁵ For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without ^[b]Him? ²⁶ For to a person who is good in His sight, ^(C)He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may ^(D)give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is ^(E)futility and striving after wind.

Greed Denounced

¹³ Now someone ^[a]in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ But He said to him, “^[b](A)You there—who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over the two of you?” ¹⁵ But He said to them, “^(B)Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.” ¹⁶ And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. ¹⁷ And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. ¹⁹ And I will say to ^[c]myself, “^(C)You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘^(D)You fool! This very night ^[d](E)your soul is demanded of you; and ^(F)as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’ ²¹ Such is the one who ^(G)stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”