^{12 Ref} And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what `can' the man `do' that cometh after the king? `even' that which hath been done long ago.

^{13 Ref} Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

^{14 Ref} The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.

^{15 Ref} Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.

^{16 Ref} For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!

^{17 Ref} So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.