Ecclesiastes 1:16

Ecclesiastes 1:16

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

15 ^aWhat is crooked cannot be made straight,
And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

16 I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained ^amore wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has¹ understood great wisdom and knowledge.”

17 ^aAnd I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

18 For ^ain much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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communed with . . . heart— (Genesis 24:45).

come to great estate—Rather, "I have magnified and gotten" (literally, "added," increased), etc.

all . . . before me in Jerusalem—namely, the priests, judges, and two kings that preceded Solomon. His wisdom exceeded that of all before Jesus Christ, the antitypical Koheleth, or "Gatherer of men," (Luke 13:34), and "Wisdom" incarnate (Matthew 11:19; Matthew 12:42).

had . . . experience—literally, "had seen" (Jeremiah 2:31). Contrast with this glorying in worldly wisdom (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

**Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ecclesiastes 1:16:**

Ecclesiastes 2:12

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