Ecclesiastes 1:13-17
13And I aapplied 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 cbusiness 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 dvanity ▼▼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 gWhat is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16I said in my heart, “I have acquired great hwisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17And I iapplied my heart to know wisdom and to know jmadness and folly. I perceived that this also is but ka striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3
The Vanity of Self-Indulgence
1I lsaid in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. ▼▼The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26 (see note on 1:2)
2I nsaid of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3I osearched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on pfolly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. Ecclesiastes 2:12
The Vanity of Living Wisely
12 qSo I turned to consider rwisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only swhat has already been done.Ecclesiastes 2:20
20So I tturned about and gave my heart up to despair uover all the toil of my labors under the sun,
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