Read & explore together
With Wisdom Comes Sorrow
In this passage, the Preacher describes his careful search for wisdom. As he observes what people do under the sun, he reaches a sobering conclusion about life, limits, and the sorrow that can come with increased knowledge.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
These verses are a personal reflection from the Preacher. He speaks about applying his heart to seek and search by wisdom, observing all that is done under the sky, and weighing wisdom alongside madness and folly. The passage remains wisdom speech and self-reflection, not a narrative sequence of events.
Ecclesiastes 1:12–18Main takeaway
This passage teaches that searching deeply by wisdom can lead a person to see painful limits and to experience grief and sorrow.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The Preacher’s searchThe speaker identifies himself as the Preacher and says he was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Explanation
The speaker identifies himself as the Preacher and says he was king over Israel in Jerusalem. He says he applied his heart to seek and search by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. He describes this as a heavy burden God has given to human beings to be afflicted with.
02What he observed under the sunAfter seeing all the works done under the sun, the Preacher says all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Explanation
After seeing all the works done under the sun, the Preacher says all is vanity and a chasing after wind. This describes something elusive and unsatisfying. He then adds two fixed statements: what is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
03Wisdom, madness, and follyThe Preacher says to himself that he has obtained great wisdom above all before him in Jerusalem, and that his heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
Explanation
The Preacher says to himself that he has obtained great wisdom above all before him in Jerusalem, and that his heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. Yet when he applies his heart to know wisdom, madness, and folly, he concludes that this also is a chasing after wind.
04The closing conclusionThe passage ends with a direct conclusion about wisdom and knowledge. In much wisdom is much grief, and the one who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Explanation
The passage ends with a direct conclusion about wisdom and knowledge. In much wisdom is much grief, and the one who increases knowledge increases sorrow. The final line leaves the reader with the weight of wisdom’s painful side rather than with an easy answer.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the Preacher say he set his heart to do, and how does he describe that task?
Look for his words about seeking and searching by wisdom, and notice that he calls it a heavy burden given to people.
02What pictures does the passage use to describe life and its frustrations?
Find the phrases about chasing after wind, what is crooked, and what is lacking, and consider how those images work in the passage.
03How does the ending shape the whole passage’s view of wisdom and knowledge?
Compare the claim of great wisdom and experience with the final statement that much wisdom brings grief and increased knowledge brings sorrow.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ecclesiastes 1:12–18
12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
15That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
16I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
17I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
18For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.