Ecclesiastes 1:17
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.
- KJV
- And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
- WEB
- I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
- ASV
- And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
- DARBY
- And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind.
- BLB
- And I set my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; I have known that this also—it [is] a striving after the wind.
- ÅB
- Og jeg vendte min hu til å kjenne visdommen og kjenne dårskap og uforstand, men jeg skjønte at også dette var jag etter vind.
- OTB
- Så satte jeg meg fore å kjenne visdom og også galskap og dårskap, men jeg lærte at også dette er et jag etter vind.
- B1930
- Og jeg vendte min hu til å kjenne visdommen og kjenne dårskap og uforstand, men jeg skjønte at også dette var jag efter vind.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ecclesiastes 2:3
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 7:23–25
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:10–12
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 1:13–14
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.
Read in context