11. There is not a remembrance of former [generations]; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.
12. I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13. And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It [is] a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.
14. I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit!
15. A crooked thing [one] is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.
16. I--I spake with my heart, saying, `I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.
17. And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] vexation of spirit;
18. for, in abundance of wisdom [is] abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.'