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 chapterNotas al pie
- Ecclesiastes 1:13 Lit an evil
- Ecclesiastes 1:14 Or futility
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
New Living Translation
The Teacher Speaks: The Futility of Wisdom
12 I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. 14 I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.
15 What is wrong cannot be made right.
What is missing cannot be recovered.
16 I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.” 17 So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.
18 The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief.
To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.
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