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.

¹⁰ I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

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

¹⁹ By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

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

¹⁷ then I saw all the work of God, that man can't find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won't find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won't be able to find it.

²⁵ I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

¹⁵ Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all.

¹² 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 mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

⁴ Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

²⁶ For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

²³ For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.

¹⁵ The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹ An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, And defies all sound judgment.

⁷ Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

² So as to turn your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

³ Yes, if you call out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding;

⁴ If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures:

² Yahweh's works are great, Pondered by all those who delight in them.