Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
The Vanity of Wisdom
12I athe Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I bapplied my heart ▼▼The Hebrew term denotes the center of one’s inner life, including mind, will, and emotions
to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy dbusiness that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is evanity ▼▼The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
and a striving after wind. ▼▼Or a feeding on wind; compare Hosea 12:1 (also in Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9)
15 hWhat is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16I said in my heart, “I have acquired great iwisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17And I japplied my heart to know wisdom and to know kmadness and folly. I perceived that this also is but la striving after wind.
18 For min much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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