Ecclesiastes 1.12-18

10. Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11. There is no remembrance of the former generations; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter generations that are to come, among those that shall come after.

12. I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. 14. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. 15. That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 16. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17. And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind. 18. For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:10-18, ASV)

10. Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new?” It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11. There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.

12. I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13. I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 15. That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. 16. I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17. I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. 18. For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:10-18, WEB)

10. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. 11. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

12. I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. ^{to be: or, to afflict them} 14. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. ^{that which is wanting: Heb. defect} 16. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. ^{had: Heb. had seen much} 17. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:10-18, KJV)

10. There is a thing of which [one] saith: 'See this, it [is] new!' already it hath been in the ages that were before us! 11. There is not a remembrance of former [generations]; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.

12. I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13. And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It [is] a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it. 14. I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit! 15. A crooked thing [one] is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered. 16. I, I spake with my heart, saying, 'I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge. 17. And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] vexation of spirit; 18. for, in abundance of wisdom [is] abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.' (Ecclesiastes 1:10-18, YLT)