Ecclesiastes 1:9-18

⁹What is that which has been? the very thing which shall be: and what is that which has been done? the very thing which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

¹⁰Who is he that shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? it has already been in the ages that have passed before us.

¹¹There is no memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with them that shall be at the last time.

¹²I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled therewith.

¹⁴I beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, behold, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.

¹⁵That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and deficiency cannot be numbered.

¹⁶I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.

¹⁸For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he that increases knowledge will increase sorrow.