12. I, Kohelet, am king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13. I applied my heart to seek and examine by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a burdensome task God has given the sons of men to keep them occupied.
14. I have seen all the deeds done under the sun; and behold, all is meaningless and chasing after the wind.
15. What is crooked cannot be made straight. What is missing cannot be counted.
16. I spoke with my heart saying: “I have grown rich and increased in wisdom more than any who were before me over Jerusalem. Indeed, my heart has experienced much wisdom and knowledge.”
17. So I applied my heart to know wisdom as well as to know madness and folly. I learned that this too was pursuit of the wind.
18. For with much wisdom comes much grief, and whoever keeps increasing knowledge, increases heartache.