12. I, the Philosopher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13. I determined that I would examine and study all the things that are done in this world.God has laid a miserable fate upon us.
14. I have seen everything done in this world, and I tell you, it is all useless. It is like chasing the wind.
15. You can't straighten out what is crooked; you can't count things that aren't there.
16. I told myself, “I have become a great man, far wiser than anyone who ruled Jerusalem before me. I know what wisdom and knowledge really are.”
17. I was determined to learn the difference between knowledge and foolishness, wisdom and madness. But I found out that I might as well be chasing the wind.
18. The wiser you are, the more worries you have; the more you know, the more it hurts.