Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
The Futility of Seeking Wisdom
12 I, the Teacher,[a] when king over Israel in Jerusalem, 13 applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. 14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.[b]
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said to myself, ‘I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.’ 17 And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.[c]
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 1:12 Heb Qoheleth, traditionally rendered Preacher
- Ecclesiastes 1:14 Or a feeding on wind. See Hos 12.1
- Ecclesiastes 1:17 Or a feeding on wind. See Hos 12.1
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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