Ecclesiastes 1:13
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!
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
KJV1611 – Modern English
And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this difficult task God has given to the children of man to be engaged with.
King James Version 1611 (Original)
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
And I applied{H5414} my heart{H3820} to seek{H1875} and to search out{H8446} by wisdom{H2451} concerning all that is done{H6213} under heaven:{H8064} it is a sore{H7451} travail{H6045} that God{H430} hath given{H5414} to the sons{H1121} of men{H120} to be exercised{H6031} therewith.
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
And I gave{H5414}{(H8804)} my heart{H3820} to seek{H1875}{(H8800)} and search out{H8446}{(H8800)} by wisdom{H2451} concerning all things that are done{H6213}{(H8738)} under heaven{H8064}: this sore{H7451} travail{H6045} hath God{H430} given{H5414}{(H8804)} to the sons{H1121} of man{H120} to be exercised{H6031}{(H8800)} therewith.
Coverdale Bible (1535)
applyed my mynde to seke out & search for the knowlege of all thiges yt are done vnder heaue. Soch trauayle & labor hath God geue vnto ye childre of me, to exercyse the selues theri.
Geneva Bible (1560)
And I haue giuen mine heart to search and finde out wisdome by all things that are done vnder the heauen: (this sore trauaile hath GOD giuen to the sonnes of men, to humble them thereby)
Bishops' Bible (1568)
And dyd applie my mynde to seke out & searche for knowledge of all thynges that are done vnder heauen: Such trauayle and labour hath God geuen vnto the children of men, to exercise them selues therin.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
Webster's Bible (1833)
I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It `is' a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.
American Standard Version (1901)
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.
American Standard Version (1901)
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.
Bible in Basic English (1941)
And I gave my heart to searching out in wisdom all things which are done under heaven: it is a hard thing which God has put on the sons of men to do.
World English Bible (2000)
I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.
Referenced Verses
- Eccl 3:10 : 10 I have seen the burden that God has laid on the human race.
- Eccl 1:17 : 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.
- Gen 3:19 : 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you will return.
- Eccl 7:25 : 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.
- Eccl 8:16-17 : 16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe the work that is done on earth, even though people do not see sleep with their eyes day or night, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.
- Eccl 12:12 : 12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
- 1 Tim 4:15 : 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that your progress may be evident to all.
- Eccl 8:9 : 9 I observed all this as I considered all the work done under the sun: a time when one man has power over another to hurt them.
- Ps 111:2 : 2 The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who take delight in them.
- Prov 2:2-4 : 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding, 3 if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
- Prov 4:7 : 7 Wisdom is supreme—acquire wisdom. Though it costs you all you have, gain understanding.
- Prov 18:1 : 1 One who isolates himself seeks his own desires; he quarrels against all sound wisdom.
- Prov 18:15 : 15 The heart of the understanding one gains knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
- Prov 23:26 : 26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
- Eccl 2:23 : 23 All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
- Eccl 2:26 : 26 To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- Eccl 4:4 : 4 And I saw that all toil and all skill in work are driven by one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 1:14-185 verses88%
14 I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun; they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said to myself, 'Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled Jerusalem before me. I have experienced much wisdom and knowledge.'
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.
18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
- Eccl 2:17-2610 verses84%
17 So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
18 I hated all my toil under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.
19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.
20 So I turned my heart to despair over all the hard work with which I had labored under the sun.
21 For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.
22 What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun?
23 All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.
25 For who can eat or who can enjoy life apart from Him?
26 To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- Eccl 2:9-135 verses84%
9 I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom stayed with me.
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.
13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
- 84%
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.
- Eccl 3:9-124 verses83%
9 What does the worker gain from all their toil?
10 I have seen the burden that God has laid on the human race.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.
- Eccl 8:16-172 verses82%
16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe the work that is done on earth, even though people do not see sleep with their eyes day or night,
17 then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.
- Eccl 2:3-42 verses82%
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.
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
- 81%
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
- Eccl 1:1-33 verses80%
1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 “Utterly meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
3 What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
- 80%
13 I also saw this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
- 79%
15 Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise?' And I concluded in my heart, 'This too is meaningless.'
- 79%
1 So I reflected on all this and set my heart to examine it: that the righteous, the wise, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether love or hatred awaits them; everything lies before them.
- 79%
9 I observed all this as I considered all the work done under the sun: a time when one man has power over another to hurt them.
- 78%
1 I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.' But behold, this too was meaningless.
- 77%
4 And I saw that all toil and all skill in work are driven by one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- 77%
18 I said in my heart concerning the matter of the sons of man, that God is testing them to show them that they are like animals.
- 77%
8 'Utter futility,' says the Teacher. 'Everything is futile!'
- 77%
7 Again, I turned and saw meaninglessness under the sun.
- 76%
1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is great upon humanity.
- 75%
23 All this I tested by wisdom and said, 'I will be wise,' but it was beyond me.
- 75%
22 So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
- 75%
3 This is the distressing thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate befalls all. Moreover, the hearts of humans are full of evil, and madness resides in their hearts during their lives; and after that, they join the dead.
- 75%
27 'See,' says the Teacher, 'this is what I have discovered, adding one thing to another to understand the scheme of things.'
- 75%
9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
- 75%
11 The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?
- 74%
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.