And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

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 ruleth over another to his own hurt.

When I applied mine 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:)

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

The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

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

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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

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.