Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I gave my mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after wind.
Noyes Bible
In The King James Version
In Context
18For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Cross References
Psalms 73:16So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
Ecclesiastes 2:3I thought in my heart to strengthen my body with wine, and, while my heart cleaved to wisdom, to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was good for the sons of men, which they should do under heaven all the days of their life.
Ecclesiastes 2:11Then I looked upon all the works which my hands had wrought, and upon all the labor which I had toiled in performing; and, behold, it was all vanity, and striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 3:19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts: one lot befalleth both. As the one dieth, so dieth the other. Yea, there is one spirit in them, and a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 6:9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 7:25I applied my mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, foolishness and madness.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 1:13-18
Vanity of Human Wisdom. 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. 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. 16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am… Read the whole commentary →