Ecclesiastes 1:12-14

Expanded Bible

Does Wisdom Bring Happiness?

¹² I, the ·Teacher [or Preacher; ^LAssembler; 1:1], ·was [or have been] king over Israel in Jerusalem [1:1]. ¹³ I ·decided [devoted myself] to use my wisdom to ·learn [explore] about everything that happens ·on earth [^Lunder heaven; v. 3]. I learned that God has given ·us terrible things to face [or the human race an evil/unhappy task to keep us occupied]. ¹⁴ I ·looked at [observed] everything done ·on earth [^Lunder the sun; v. 3] and saw that it is all useless [v. 2], like chasing the wind.