1:13 I decided 1 to carefully 2 and thoroughly examine 3
all that has been accomplished on earth. 4
I concluded: 5 God has given people 6 a burdensome task 7
that keeps them 8 occupied. 9
1:14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man 10 on earth, 11
and I concluded: Everything 12 he has accomplished 13 is futile 14 – like chasing the wind! 15
1:15 What is bent 16 cannot be straightened, 17
and what is missing 18 cannot be supplied. 19
1:16 I thought to myself, 20
“I have become much wiser 21 than any of my predecessors who ruled 22 over Jerusalem; 23
I 24 have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.” 25
1:17 So I decided 26 to discern the benefit of 27 wisdom and knowledge over 28 foolish behavior and ideas; 29
however, I concluded 30 that even 31 this endeavor 32 is like 33 trying to chase the wind! 34