Ecclesiastes 1:9-18

⁹That which has been, is that which is to be, and that which has been done, is that which will be done, and there is no new thing under the sun.

¹⁰Is there anything of which men say, See, this is new? It has been in the old time which was before us.

¹¹There is no memory of those who have gone before, and of those who come after there will be no memory for those who are still to come after them.

¹²I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³And I gave my heart to searching out in wisdom all things which are done under heaven: it is a hard thing which God has put on the sons of men to do.

¹⁴I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

¹⁵That which is bent may not be made straight, and that which is not there may not be numbered.

¹⁶I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem — yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.

¹⁸Because in much wisdom is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow.