Ecclesiastes 8:17

15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.
KJV
Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
WEB
then I saw all the work of God, that man can’t find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won’t find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won’t be able to find it.
ASV
then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
DARBY
then I saw that all [is] the work of God, [and] that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however man may labour to seek [it] out, yet doth he not find [it]; and even, if a wise [man] think to know [it], he shall not be able to find [it] out.
BLB
and I saw all the work of God, that man is not able to find out the work that is done under the sun in that to which man might toil to seek [it], and he will not find [it]; and even though the wise one claims to know [it], he is not able to find [it].
ÅB
da så jeg at det er så med alt Guds verk at mennesket ikke kan utgrunde det som hender under solen; for hvor meget et menneske enn strever med å utgranske det, kan han dog ikke utgrunde det, og selv om den vise sier at han nok skal forstå det, er han dog ikke i stand til å utgrunde det.
OTB
så så jeg alt Guds verk. Ingen kan forstå hva som skjer under solen. Til tross for all deres innsats for å finne det ut, kan ingen oppdage meningen. Selv om de vise hevder å vite, kan de ikke virkelig forstå det.
B1930
da så jeg at det er så med alt Guds verk at mennesket ikke kan utgrunde det som hender under solen; for hvor meget et menneske enn strever med å utgranske det, kan han dog ikke utgrunde det, og selv om den vise sier at han nok skal forstå det, er han dog ikke i stand til å utgrunde det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 3:11

    He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 73:16

    When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:33

    O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 40:28

    Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

    Read in context
  • Job 11:7–9

    Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 7:23–24

    All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

    Read in context
  • Job 5:9

    Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 11:5

    As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

    Read in context