Ecclesiastes 1:11-18

11 There is no 1remembrance of former things,[a] nor will there be any remembrance of later things[b] yet to be among those who come after.

The Vanity of Wisdom

12 I 2the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I 3applied my heart[c] to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy 4business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is 5vanity and a striving after wind.[d]
15 6What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said in my heart, "I have acquired great 7wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
17 And I 8applied my heart to know wisdom and to know 9madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but 10a striving after wind.
18 For 11in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Ecclesiastes 2:16; See Ecclesiastes 9:5
  • 2. ver. 1
  • 3. ver. 17; [1 Kings 4:33]
  • 4. Ecclesiastes 2:23, 26; Ecclesiastes 3:10; [Genesis 3:19]
  • 5. ver. 2; Ecclesiastes 2:11, 17, 26; Ecclesiastes 4:4; Ecclesiastes 6:9
  • 6. See Ecclesiastes 7:13
  • 7. Ecclesiastes 2:9; [1 Kings 3:12, 13; 1 Kings 4:30; 1 Kings 10:7, 23]
  • 8. ver. 13; [Ecclesiastes 2:3, 12; Ecclesiastes 7:23, 25]
  • 9. Ecclesiastes 9:3
  • 10. [See ver. 14 above]
  • 11. [Ecclesiastes 12:12]

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Or former people
  • [b]. Or later people
  • [c]. The Hebrew term denotes the center of one's inner life, including mind, will, and emotions
  • [d]. Or a feeding on wind; compare Hosea 12:1 (so throughout Ecclesiastes)
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.