Ecclesiastes 7:25

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

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.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    I applied my heart to know, to search, and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even foolishness and madness.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    I turned{H5437} about, and my heart{H3820} [was set] to know{H3045} and to search{H8446} out,{H1245} and to seek wisdom{H2451} and the reason{H2808} [of things], and to know{H3045} that wickedness{H7562} is folly,{H3689} and that foolishness{H5531} is madness.{H1947}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    I applied{H5437}{(H8804)} mine heart{H3820} to know{H3045}{(H8800)}, and to search{H8446}{(H8800)}, and to seek out{H1245}{(H8763)} wisdom{H2451}, and the reason{H2808} of things, and to know{H3045}{(H8800)} the wickedness{H7562} of folly{H3689}, even of foolishness{H5531} and madness{H1947}:

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    I applied my mynde also vnto knowlege, and to seke out sciece, wisdome and vnderstondinge: to knowe the foolishnesse of the vngodly, and the erroure of dotinge fooles.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    (7:27) I haue compassed about, both I and mine heart to knowe and to enquire and to search wisedome, and reason, and to knowe the wickednesse of follie, and the foolishnesse of madnesse,

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    I applied my minde also vnto knowledge, and to seeke and searche out science, wysdome, and vnderstanding, to knowe the foolishnesse of the vngodly, and the errour of doting fooles.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness:

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    I have turned round, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and of foolishness the madness.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    I gave my mind to knowledge and to searching for wisdom and the reason of things, and to the discovery that sin is foolish, and that to be foolish is to be without one's senses.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    True Righteousness and Wisdom Are Virtually Nonexistent I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 10:13 : 13 The beginning of a fool's speech is foolishness, and the end of it is evil madness.
  • Jer 12:1-2 : 1 You are righteous, LORD, even when I bring my case to you. Yet I want to discuss your judgments: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those who betray others at ease? 2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are near to their lips but far from their hearts.
  • 2 Pet 2:3-9 : 3 In their greed, they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment, 5 and if He did not spare the ancient world but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, along with seven others when He brought the flood on the ungodly world, 6 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, 7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless, 8 (For that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard.) 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
  • 2 Pet 3:3-9 : 3 First of all, you should understand that in the last days, mockers will come, following their own evil desires, 4 and they will say, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, everything continues just as it has from the beginning of creation.' 5 For they deliberately ignore this fact: that the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God. 6 Through these, the world of that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and the destruction of ungodly people. 8 But do not let this one thing escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wanting any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
  • Gen 34:7 : 7 Now Jacob's sons had come in from the fields when they heard, and the men were grieved and very angry, because this outrageous act had been done in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter—something that should not be done.
  • Josh 7:13 : 13 Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, because this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.’
  • 2 Sam 13:12 : 12 She answered him, 'No, my brother! Don’t force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this outrageous thing.'
  • Prov 17:12 : 12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
  • Prov 26:11 : 11 Like a dog returning to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
  • Eccl 1:13-17 : 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. 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.
  • Eccl 2:1-3 : 1 I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.' But behold, this too was meaningless. 2 I said of laughter, 'It is madness,' and of joy, 'What does it accomplish?' 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 2:12 : 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.
  • Eccl 2:15 : 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.'
  • Eccl 2:20 : 20 So I turned my heart to despair over all the hard work with which I had labored under the sun.
  • Eccl 3:16-17 : 16 And I saw under the sun, in the place of judgment, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well. 17 I said in my heart, 'God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.'
  • Eccl 7:27 : 27 'See,' says the Teacher, 'this is what I have discovered, adding one thing to another to understand the scheme of things.'
  • Eccl 9:1-3 : 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. 2 Everything happens alike to everyone: the same fate comes to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the pure and the impure, to those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As with the good person, so with the sinner; as with those who swear oaths, so with those who avoid them. 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.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 1:13-18
    6 verses
    88%

    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.

    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 2:1-3
    3 verses
    83%

    1 I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.' But behold, this too was meaningless.

    2 I said of laughter, 'It is madness,' and of joy, 'What does it accomplish?'

    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 7:23-24
    2 verses
    80%

    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?

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    79%

    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 2:10-15
    6 verses
    79%

    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.

    14 The wise have eyes in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate overtakes them both.

    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.'

  • Eccl 2:19-20
    2 verses
    78%

    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.

  • Eccl 7:4
    77%

    4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

  • Prov 8:12
    77%

    12 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.

  • Prov 7:7
    76%

    7 And I saw among the naive ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man lacking understanding.

  • Eccl 7:26-27
    2 verses
    76%

    26 I found that more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be caught by her.

    27 'See,' says the Teacher, 'this is what I have discovered, adding one thing to another to understand the scheme of things.'

  • Prov 19:3
    75%

    3 A man’s foolishness twists his way, and his heart rages against the LORD.

  • Prov 18:1-2
    2 verses
    75%

    1 One who isolates himself seeks his own desires; he quarrels against all sound wisdom.

    2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in revealing his own thoughts.

  • Prov 15:14
    75%

    14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

  • Ps 73:16
    74%

    16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply.

  • Prov 17:16
    74%

    16 Why should a fool pay for wisdom when he has no intention of understanding it?

  • Prov 14:8
    74%

    8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand their path, but the folly of fools is deceit.

  • Prov 8:5
    74%

    5 Understand prudence, you simple ones; and you fools, gain a discerning heart.

  • Eccl 9:1
    74%

    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.

  • Prov 1:2
    74%

    2 To know wisdom and discipline, to understand words of insight,

  • Prov 18:15
    73%

    15 The heart of the understanding one gains knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

  • Prov 1:6
    73%

    6 To understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

  • Prov 14:33
    73%

    33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but it becomes known even among fools.

  • Job 28:12
    73%

    12 But where can wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding?

  • Eccl 9:13
    73%

    13 I also saw this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

  • Prov 17:24
    73%

    24 Wisdom is before the face of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

  • Job 42:3
    72%

    3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures counsel without knowledge?' Surely, I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

  • Prov 8:14
    72%

    14 Counsel and wisdom belong to me; I have understanding and strength.

  • Prov 2:10
    72%

    10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

  • Prov 15:7
    72%

    7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.

  • Eccl 7:7
    72%

    7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

  • Eccl 2:25
    72%

    25 For who can eat or who can enjoy life apart from Him?

  • Prov 16:22
    72%

    22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but the discipline of fools is folly.

  • Prov 2:2
    72%

    2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding,