Ecclesiastes 1:18

²⁸To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord,^[+] that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”

¹²Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

¹³This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

¹⁸Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.”²⁰And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”

¹⁶Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

²³For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. ¹⁶For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. ¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

¹⁵Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.