Ecclesiastes 1 (NKJV)

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. ² “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” ³ In which he toils under the sun? ⁴ But the earth abides forever. ⁵ And hastens to the place where it arose. ⁶ And comes again on its circuit. ⁷ There they return again. ⁸ Nor the ear filled with hearing. ⁹ And there is nothing new under the sun. ¹⁰ It has already been in ancient times before us. ¹¹ By those who will come after. ¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. ¹⁵ And what is lacking cannot be numbered. ¹⁶ I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷ And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. ¹⁸ And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.