What Does Ecclesiastes 4:9 Mean?

The Preacher states that what has been is what will be, and there is nothing new under the sun. If someone says something is new, it has already existed in earlier times. There is no lasting remembrance of former things, and future things will also not be remembered. He says he applied his heart to seek and search out by wisdom all things done under heaven. He describes this task as a heavy burden. He sees all the works done under the sun and calls them vanity and vexation of spirit, saying what is crooked cannot be made straight and what is lacking cannot be counted. He speaks of gaining wisdom and knowledge beyond those before him in Jerusalem, yet he finds that much wisdom brings much grief, and increasing knowledge increases sorrow. Ecclesiastes 2: The Vanity of Pleasure and Labor The Preacher says he tests himself with pleasure to see what is good. He turns to laughter and calls it madness, and to mirth, questioning its value. He gives himself to wine while guiding his heart with wisdom, and he lays hold on folly to see what is good for people to do under heaven during their lives. He makes great works, builds houses, plants vineyards, gardens, and orchards, and plants trees of every kind. He makes pools of water, acquires servants, has great possessions of cattle and flocks, and gathers silver, gold, and treasures. He obtains singers and delights in many pleasures. He becomes great and surpasses all before him in Jerusalem, and his wisdom remains with him. Whatever his eyes desire, he does not withhold.