16 I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me;(A) I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom,(B) and also of madness and folly,(C) but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;(D)
    the more knowledge, the more grief.(E)

Pleasures Are Meaningless

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure(F) to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. “Laughter,”(G) I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” I tried cheering myself with wine,(H) and embracing folly(I)—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

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