Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
Christian Standard Bible
The Limitations of Wisdom
12 I, the Teacher,(A) have been[a] king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to examine(B) and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven.(C) God has given people[b] this miserable task to keep them occupied.(D) 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.[c](E)
15 What is crooked cannot be straightened;(F)
what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me,(G) and my mind has thoroughly grasped[d] wisdom and knowledge.” 17 I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge,(H) madness and folly;(I) I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.(J)
18 For with much wisdom is much sorrow;(K)
as knowledge increases, grief increases.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Futility of Seeking Wisdom
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 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)
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.(C)
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.”(D) 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.(E)
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow.(F)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.