Ecclesiastes 1:17 Parallel Translations

I've used my mind to understand wisdom and knowledge as well as madness and stupidity. Now I know that this is like trying to catch the wind.(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

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.

BBE:

And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.

DBY:

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.

ERV:

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

JPS:

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly--I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

WBS:

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.

YLT:

And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this is vexation of spirit;

Ecclesiastes 1:17 Cross References

XREF:

Ecclesiastes 1:13 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.

Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done?

Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 I directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know {l} madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
(l) That is, vain things, which served to pleasure, in which was no convenience, but grief and trouble of conscience.

WES:

1:17 To know - That I might throughly understand the nature and difference of truth and error, of virtue and vice.

MHC:

1:12-18 Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom discovered man's wickedness and misery; so that the more he knew, the more he saw cause to lament and mourn. Let us learn to hate and fear sin, the cause of all this vanity and misery; to value Christ; to seek rest in the knowledge, love, and service of the Saviour.

CONC:

Applied Chasing Desire Folly Foolish Getting Heart Learned Madness Mind Myself Perceived Realized Spirit Striving Understanding Vexation Wind Wisdom

Applied Chasing Folly Foolish Getting Heart Learned Madness Mind Perceived Realized Spirit Striving Understanding Vexation Ways Wind Wisdom

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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