Verse 17

Then I set my heart to understand wisdom, as well as madness and folly, but I learned that this too is a chasing after the wind.

Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 2:3 : 3 I explored with my heart how to cheer my body with wine, while my mind guided me with wisdom, and how to embrace folly until I could see what is good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
  • Eccl 2:10-12 : 10 Anything my eyes desired, I did not withhold from them; I did not keep my heart from any pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, for this was my reward for all my efforts. 11 Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun. 12 So I turned my attention to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can anyone do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.
  • 1 Thess 5:21 : 21 Test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
  • Eccl 1:13-14 : 13 I set my heart to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a burdensome task God has given to the human race to occupy themselves with! 14 I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun; they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
  • Eccl 7:23-25 : 23 All this I tested by wisdom and said, 'I will be wise,' but it was beyond me. 24 What exists is far off and exceedingly deep—who can discover it? 25 I turned my mind to understand, to investigate, and to search out wisdom and the meaning of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.