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.^(A)

³ I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life.

²¹ but test everything; hold fast to what is good;^(A)

¹⁰ Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure from all my toil, and this was my reward from all my toil.^{(A) 11} Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.^(B)

Wisdom and Joy Given to One Who Pleases God

¹² So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly, for what can the king’s successor do? Only what has already been done.^(C)

²³ All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.^{(A) 24} That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?^{(B) 25} I turned my mind to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the sum of things and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness.^(C)

¹³ I 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 humans to be busy with.^{(A) 14} I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.^(B)