In Much Wisdom Is Much Grief
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. 16 I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
The investigation is announced with royal resources behind it, and its first finding is that understanding hurts.
Verse 12 establishes the credentials for what follows: I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. Whatever the inquiry costs, it can be afforded.
Verse 13 states the method — I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom — and the scope, all that is done under the sky. Then a clause that colors the whole book: the task itself is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. The searching is not described as a hobby. It is assigned, and it is hard.
The first verdict comes in verse 14 and introduces the book's second characteristic phrase: all is vanity and a chasing after wind. Vapor, and then the pursuit of vapor — an activity that cannot fail more completely, since the thing chased has no substance to catch.
Verse 15 gives two limits in proverb form: that which is crooked can't be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. Some things do not admit of fixing, and some do not admit of measuring.
Verse 16 records the qualification without modesty — great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem — and verse 17 that he investigated madness and folly as well, testing both ends.
The finding in verse 18 is not comfortable: in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. Understanding is not presented as a remedy. It is presented as a cost that buys clarity, and clarity is what hurts.
settled What this mark means