Ecclesiastes 2:11-13

Expanded Bible

¹¹ But then I ·looked at [turned my attention to] what I had done,
    and I thought about all the ·hard work [toil].
Suddenly I realized it was useless [1:2], like chasing the wind.
    There is ·nothing to gain [no profit/advantage] from anything we do ·here on earth [^Lunder the sun; 1:3].

¹² Then I ·began to think again about being wise,
    and also about being foolish and doing crazy things [^Lturned my attention to observe wisdom and mad folly].
After all, what more can anyone who comes after the king do?
    He can’t do more than what the king has already done [^CIf the king couldn’t find meaning in life, then no one could].
¹³ I saw that ·being wise is certainly better than being foolish [^Lthere was more profit in wisdom than folly],
    just as light is ·better [more profitable] than darkness.