Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my mind to
searching out and exploring wisdom, all that is done under heaven: it is
an evil task that God hath given the children of men at which to toil. I
have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, the
whole is vanity and a striving after wind. The crooked cannot be made
straight; and the wanting cannot be numbered. I communed with myself,
saying, Behold, I have increased and gathered wisdom more than all who
were before me in Jerusalem, and my mind has abundantly beheld wisdom and
knowledge. And I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and
folly: I know that this also is a striving after wind. For in much wisdom
is much trouble, and he who increases knowledge, increases pain.

[Sidenote: Eccles. 2:1-11]
I said in my mind, Come now, I will test you with pleasure; so look upon
what is attractive; and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter,
It is mad; and of pleasure, What does it do? I searched in my mind, how to
Stimulate my flesh with wine, while my mind was guiding with wisdom, and
how to lay hold on folly, until I should see what is good for the children
of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life. I did great
works: I built for myself houses; I planted for myself vineyards; I made
for myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them, every kind of
fruit-tree. I made for myself pools of water, to water a grove springing
up with trees. I bought male and female slaves and had slaves born in my
house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than all who
had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and
gold, and the treasure of kings and of provinces. I secured for myself
male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men, mistresses
of all kinds. And I grew more wealthy than all who were before in
Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. And nothing that my eyes
craved did I keep from them; I did not deny my heart any joy, for my heart
rejoiced because of all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my
hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold,
all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no gain under the
sun.

[Sidenote: Eccles. 2:12-17]
And I turned to behold wisdom and madness, and folly; for what can the man
do who comes after the king? Even that which has been done already. Then I
saw that wisdom excels folly, as fa