Ecclesiastes 1:18
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.
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
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
- For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.
- KJV
- For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
- WEB
- For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
- ASV
- For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
- DARBY
- For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
- BLB
- For with an abundance of wisdom [is] much grief, and he [who] adds to knowledge adds to sorrow.
- ÅB
- For hvor det er mye visdom, der er det mye gremmelse, og den som øker kunnskap, øker smerte.
- OTB
- For med mye visdom kommer mye sorg; jo mer kunnskap, jo mer smerte.
- B1930
- For hvor det er megen visdom, der er det megen gremmelse, og den som øker kunnskap, øker smerte.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 12:12–13
And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Read in context1 Corinthians 3:18–20
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 7:16
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Read in contextJames 3:13–17
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:23
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:15
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
Read in context