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Ecclesiastes 1:13
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11 There is ano remembrance of former things,
Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come
By those who will come after.  

The Grief of Wisdom

12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I set my heart to seek and asearch out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; bthis burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be1 exercised.  
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. 
Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 1:13

<< Ecclesiastes 1:12   Ecclesiastes 1:14 >>

American Standard Version
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

Amplified® Bible
And I applied myself by heart {and} mind to seek and search out by [human] wisdom all human activity under heaven. It is a miserable business which God has given to the sons of man with which to busy themselves.

Contemporary English Version
With all my wisdom I tried to understand everything that happens here on earth. And God has made this so hard for us humans to do.

Darby English Version
And I applied my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this grievous occupation hath God given to the children of men to weary themselves therewith.

Good News Bible
I determined that I would examine and study all the things that are done in this world. God has laid a miserable fate upon us.

King James Version
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

New American Standard Bible
And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. {It} is a grievous task {which} God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

New International Version
I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men!

New King James Version
And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has happened under heaven It proves a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to suffer affliction.

Revised Standard Version
And I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It `is' a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.


<< Ecclesiastes 1:12   Ecclesiastes 1:14 >>

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