Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
wisdom . . . knowledge—not in general, for wisdom, etc., are most excellent in their place; but speculative knowledge of man's ways (Ecclesiastes 1:13, Ecclesiastes 1:17), which, the farther it goes, gives one the more pain to find how "crooked" and "wanting" they are (Ecclesiastes 1:15; Ecclesiastes 12:12).
He next tries pleasure and luxury, retaining however, his worldly "wisdom" (Ecclesiastes 3:9), but all proves "vanity" in respect to the chief good.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ecclesiastes 1:18:
Ecclesiastes 1:14
Ecclesiastes 2:12
Ecclesiastes 12:12
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