Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
Revised Standard Version
The Futility of Seeking Wisdom
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And 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 the sons of men to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.[a]
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be numbered.
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.” 17 And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 1:14 Or a feeding on wind. See Hos 12.1
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
American Standard Version
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and [a]a striving after wind. 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and [b]that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom [c]above all that were before me [d]in Jerusalem; yea, my heart [e]hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 1:14 Or, a feeding on wind (See Hos. 12:1). Or, vexation of spirit (and so elsewhere).
- Ecclesiastes 1:15 Hebrew defect.
- Ecclesiastes 1:16 Or, yea, more than all
- Ecclesiastes 1:16 Hebrew over.
- Ecclesiastes 1:16 Hebrew hath seen abundantly.
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