Ecclesiastes 1:17

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 2:3 : 3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding [me] with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.
  • Eccl 2:10-12 : 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun. 12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that cometh after the king? [even] that which hath been done long ago.
  • 1 Thess 5:21 : 21 prove all things; hold fast that which is good;
  • Eccl 1:13-14 : 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
  • Eccl 7:23-25 : 23 All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out? 25 I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 7:23-25
    3 verses
    88%

    23All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

    24That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?

    25I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.

  • Eccl 1:12-16
    5 verses
    88%

    12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

    13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

    14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

    15That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

    16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

  • Eccl 1:18
    85%

    18For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

  • Eccl 2:9-17
    9 verses
    84%

    9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

    10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.

    11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

    12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that cometh after the king? [even] that which hath been done long ago.

    13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

    14The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.

    15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.

    16For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!

    17So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 2:1-4
    4 verses
    83%

    1I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.

    2I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?

    3I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding [me] with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.

    4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;

  • Eccl 2:19-22
    4 verses
    82%

    19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

    20Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.

    21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

    22For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    80%

    16When I applied my 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), [

    17then 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.

  • Eccl 1:2-3
    2 verses
    78%

    2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

    3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

  • Eccl 2:25-26
    2 verses
    77%

    25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

    26For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 9:13
    77%

    13I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me:

  • Eccl 4:4
    76%

    4Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 6:8-9
    2 verses
    76%

    8For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?

    9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 4:7
    76%

    7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

  • Eccl 12:8
    76%

    8Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

  • Eccl 9:1
    76%

    1For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.

  • Eccl 7:4
    75%

    4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

  • Eccl 3:18
    75%

    18I said in my heart, [It is] because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are [but as] beasts.

  • Ps 73:16
    75%

    16When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;

  • Prov 1:2
    75%

    2To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;

  • Prov 19:3
    75%

    3The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.

  • Prov 18:2
    74%

    2A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.

  • Eccl 3:12
    74%

    12I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.

  • Eccl 8:9
    73%

    9All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: [there is] a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.

  • Eccl 3:10
    73%

    10I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

  • Eccl 9:3
    73%

    3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.

  • Eccl 6:11
    73%

    11Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?