Ecclesiastes 1:12-17

¹²I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,

¹³And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.

¹⁴I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.

¹⁵The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.

¹⁶I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.

¹⁷And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,