Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
Legacy Standard Bible
The Vanity of Wisdom
12 I, the (A)Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I (B)gave my heart to seek and (C)explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is [a]a grievous (D)endeavor which God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. 14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is [b](E)vanity and striving after wind. 15 What is (F)bent cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I spoke within my heart, saying, “Behold, I have magnified and increased (G)wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my heart has seen an abundance of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I (H)gave my heart to know wisdom and to (I)know madness and simpleminded folly; I came to know that this also is (J)striving after wind. 18 Because (K)in much wisdom there is much vexation, and whoever increases knowledge increases pain.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 1:13 Lit an evil
- Ecclesiastes 1:14 Or futility
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
Holman 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 seek(B) and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven.(C) God has given people 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.[b](E)
15 What is crooked cannot be straightened;(F)
what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said to myself,[c] “Look, 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.[e](J)
18 For with much wisdom is much sorrow;(K)
as knowledge increases, grief increases.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 1:12 Or Teacher, was
- Ecclesiastes 1:14 Or a feeding on wind, or an affliction of spirit
- Ecclesiastes 1:16 Lit said with my heart
- Ecclesiastes 1:16 Or discerned
- Ecclesiastes 1:17 Or a feeding on wind, or an affliction of spirit
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