Ecclesiastes 1:16-18; 2:1-11 Reading
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief (vs 18, NIV).
I undertook great projects:…(Ecclesiastes 2:4, NIV).
I denied myself nothing my eyes desires; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour (Ecclesiastes 2:10, NIV)
..everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
No matter how much he achieved in life according to King David, at the end, all is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 1:16-18
[16]I told myself, “I have become a great man, far wiser than anyone who ruled Jerusalem before me. I know what wisdom and knowledge really are.”
[17]I was determined to learn the difference between knowledge and foolishness, wisdom and madness. But I found out that I might as well be chasing the wind.
[18]The wiser you are, the more worries you have; the more you know, the more it hurts.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
[1]I decided to enjoy myself and find out what happiness is. But I found that this is useless, too.
[2]I discovered that laughter is foolish, that pleasure does you no good.
[3]Driven on by my desire for wisdom, I decided to cheer myself up with wine and have a good time. I thought that this might be the best way people can spend their short lives on earth.
[4]I accomplished great things. I built myself houses and planted vineyards.
[5]I planted gardens and orchards, with all kinds of fruit trees in them;
[6]I dug ponds to irrigate them.
[7]I bought many slaves, and there were slaves born in my household. I owned more livestock than anyone else who had ever lived in Jerusalem.
[8]I also piled up silver and gold from the royal treasuries of the lands I ruled. Men and women sang to entertain me, and I had all the women a man could want.
[9]Yes, I was great, greater than anyone else who had ever lived in Jerusalem, and my wisdom never failed me.
[10]Anything I wanted, I got. I did not deny myself any pleasure. I was proud of everything I had worked for, and all this was my reward.
[11]Then I thought about all that I had done and how hard I had worked doing it, and I realized that it didn’t mean a thing. It was like chasing the wind — of no use at all.