THE LIMITATIONS OF WISDOM

12 I, the Teacher,j have beenD king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to examinek and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven.l God has given peopleE this miserable task to keep them occupied.m 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.* n

15 What is crooked cannot be straightened;o

what is lacking cannot be counted.

16 I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me,p and my mind has thoroughly graspedG wisdom and knowledge.” 17 I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge,q madness and folly;r I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.s

18 For with much wisdom is much sorrow;t

as knowledge increases, grief increases.