The Vanity of Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 1

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ And I set my heart to seek and _l search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; _m this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be ₁ exercised. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

¹⁵ _n What is crooked cannot be made straight,
And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

¹⁶ I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained _o more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has ₂ understood great wisdom and knowledge." ¹⁷ _p And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

¹⁸ For _q in much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

1. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 7:25
   I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness.
   Ecclesiastes 8:16
   When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night.
   Ecclesiastes 8:17
   Then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.
   
2. Cross References
   Genesis 3:19
   In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.
   Ecclesiastes 3:10
   I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.
   
3. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 7:13
   Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?
   
4. Cross References
   1 Kings 3:12
   Behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
   1 Kings 3:13
   And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.
   Ecclesiastes 2:9
   So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
   
5. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 2:3
   I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
   Ecclesiastes 2:12
   Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what can the man do who succeeds the king? - Only what he has already done.
   Ecclesiastes 7:23
   All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise"; But it was far from me.
   Ecclesiastes 7:25
   I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness.
   1 Thessalonians 5:21
   Test all things; hold fast what is good.
   
6. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 12:12
   And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.
   

New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.