Ecclesiastes 2:12-23

Ecclesiastes 2:12-23

[12] 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 already  done.  [13] Then I saw  that  wisdom  excelleth  folly,  as far as light  excelleth  darkness.  [14] The wise man's  eyes  are in his head;  but the fool  walketh  in darkness:  and I myself perceived  also that one  event  happeneth  [15] Then  said  I in my heart,  As it happeneth  to the fool,  so it happeneth  even to me;  and why was I then more  wise?  Then I said  in my heart,  that this also is vanity.  [16] For there is no remembrance  of the wise  more than  of the fool  for ever;  seeing that which now  is in the days  to come  shall all be forgotten.  And how dieth  the wise  man? as the fool.  [17] Therefore I hated  life;  because the work  that is wrought  under the sun  is grievous  unto me: for all is vanity  and vexation  of spirit.  [18] Yea, I hated  all my labour  which I had taken  under the sun:  because I should leave  it unto the man  that shall be after  [19] And who knoweth  whether he shall be a wise  man or a fool?  yet shall he have rule  over all my labour  wherein I have laboured,  and wherein I have shewed myself wise  under the sun.  This is also vanity.  [20] Therefore I went about  my heart  to despair  of all the labour  which I took  under the sun.  [21] For there is  a man  whose labour  is in wisdom,  and in knowledge,  and in equity;  yet to a man  that hath not laboured  therein shall he leave  it for his portion.  This also is vanity  and a great  evil.  [22] For what hath  man  of all his labour,  and of the vexation  of his heart,  wherein  he hath laboured  under the sun?  [23] For all his days  are sorrows,  and his travail  grief;  yea, his heart  taketh not rest  in the night.  This is also vanity.