Ungodly WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE lead to GRIEF and SORROW (tribulation & judgment)

Ec 1:18 For in much WISDOM is much GRIEF^03708: and he that increaseth KNOWLEDGE increaseth SORROW^04341.

Isa 17:11 In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of GRIEF and of desperate SORROW.

Jer 45:3 Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added GRIEF to my SORROW^04341; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.

Jer 51:8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her PAIN^04341, if so be she may be healed.

La 1:12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any SORROW^04341 like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the DAY of his FIERCE ANGER.

1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

1Co 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast KNOWLEDGE sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

1Co 8:11 And through thy KNOWLEDGE shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

Da 11:30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and HAVE INTELLIGENCE with them that forsake the holy covenant.

Eze 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast CORRUPTED THY WISDOM by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Ec 2:23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail GRIEF^<03708>; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also VANITY.

Isa 47:10 For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy WISDOM and thy KNOWLEDGE, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.

Pr 3:7 Be not WISE in THINE OWN EYES: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Ro 1:22 PROFESSING themselves to be WISE, they became fools,

Elect Sorrow Only in Tribulation? (Pre-depart out)

Ec 7:3 SORROW is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Ec 7:4 The heart of the wise is in the HOUSE OF MOURNING; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth (joy).

Re 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall REJOICE OVER THEM, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Ec 7:2 It is better to go to the HOUSE OF MOURNING, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

Jer 16:5 For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the HOUSE OF MOURNING, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.

1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye SUFFER for well doing, than for evil doing.

2Ti 2:12 If we suffer^5278, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth^5278 temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Heb 12:7 If ye endure^5278 chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Mic 7:8 REJOICE not against me, O mine enemy: when I FALL, I shall ARISE; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a LIGHT unto me.

With Knowledge, Elect have JOY; not SORROW

Ec 2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight WISDOM, and KNOWLEDGE, and JOY: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Da 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and KNOWLEDGED SHALL BE INCREASED.

Ps 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, but JOY cometh in the morning.

Ro 5:11 And not only so, but we also JOY in God THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, by whom we have now received the atonement.

1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ‘s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be REVEALED, ye may be glad also with EXCEEDING JOY.

Joe 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and REJOICE in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the LATTER RAIN in the first month.

Isa 65:14 Behold, my servants shall SING FOR JOY of heart, but ye shall cry for SORROW OF HEART, and shall howl for VEXATION OF SPIRIT.

Conclusion:

By God’s grace, we’ve come to realize that Solomon is used extensively, of God, to symbolize the church body who turned from God in old age. Thus the riches, wisdom and knowledge Solomon had gotten was vanity and vexation of spirit (Ec 2:17, 1:14, 2:11). Thus Ec 1:18, in the context found, appears to be pointing to what happens to those who increase in ungodly riches, wisdom and understanding. Even though they increase in knowledge, it can only bring sorrow (tribulation and judgment). Elect were judged in tribulation and God brings back their captivity, they are now the ones rejoicing because Christ is being revealed to them.

Additional supporting verses:

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be JOYOUS, but GRIEVOUS: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the PEACEABLE fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.