¹³ And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

¹⁰ I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

¹⁷ And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

¹⁹ in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

¹⁶ When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),

¹⁷ then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

²⁵ I turned about, and my heart `was set' to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason `of things', and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.

¹⁵ Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.

¹² And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

⁹ All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: `there is' a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.

⁴ Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

²⁶ For to the man that pleaseth him `God' giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

²³ For all his days are `but' sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.

²⁶ My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways.

¹⁵ The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

¹ He that separateth himself seeketh `his own' desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.

⁷ Wisdom `is' the principal thing; `therefore' get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

² So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding;

³ Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding;

⁴ If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:

² The works of Jehovah are great, Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.