Ecclesiastes 8:16
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,
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
When I applied mine 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:)
KJV1611 – Modern English
When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the work that is done upon the earth (for there are those who neither day nor night see sleep with their eyes),
King James Version 1611 (Original)
When I applied mine 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:)
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
When I applied{H5414} my heart{H3820} to know{H3045} wisdom,{H2451} and to see{H7200} the business{H6045} that is done{H6213} upon the earth{H776} (for also there is that neither day{H3117} nor night{H3915} seeth{H7200} sleep{H8142} with his eyes),{H5869}
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
When I applied{H5414}{(H8804)} mine heart{H3820} to know{H3045}{(H8800)} wisdom{H2451}, and to see{H7200}{(H8800)} the business{H6045} that is done{H6213}{(H8738)} upon the earth{H776}:(for also there is that neither day{H3117} nor night{H3915} seeth{H7200}{(H8802)} sleep{H8142} with his eyes{H5869}:)
Coverdale Bible (1535)
When I applied my mynde to lerne wy?dome, and to knowe the trauayle that is in the worlde (and that of soch a fashion, yt I suffred not myne eyes to slepe nether daye ner night)
Geneva Bible (1560)
When I applied mine heart to knowe wisedome, and to behold the busines that is done on earth, that neither day nor night the eyes of man take sleepe,
Bishops' Bible (1568)
And so I applied my minde to learne wysdome, and to knowe the trauayle that is in the worlde, and that of suche a fashion, that I suffred not mine eyes to sleepe neither day nor night.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
When I applied mine 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:)
Webster's Bible (1833)
When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes),
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that hath been done on the earth, (for there is also a spectator in whose eyes sleep is not by day and by night),
American Standard Version (1901)
When 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),
American Standard Version (1901)
When 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), [
Bible in Basic English (1941)
When I gave my mind to the knowledge of wisdom and to seeing the business which is done on the earth (and there are those whose eyes see not sleep by day or by night),
World English Bible (2000)
When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes),
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
Limitations of Human Wisdom When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth– even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night–
Referenced Verses
- Ps 127:2 : 2 It is futile for you to rise early and stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for He grants sleep to His beloved.
- Eccl 1:13 : 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!
- 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 4:8 : 8 There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!
- Eccl 5:12 : 12 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners.
- 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 8:7 : 7 Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell anyone what is to come?
- 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.
- Gen 31:40 : 40 This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime, and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- 85%
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 1:13-142 verses82%
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 1:16-183 verses80%
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.
- 79%
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.
- 78%
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 2:19-268 verses78%
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 2:10-178 verses77%
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.'
16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!
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.
- 76%
13 I also saw this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
- 76%
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.
- 75%
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.
- 75%
8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.
- Eccl 8:14-152 verses75%
14 There is a futility that takes place on the earth: righteous people receive what the wicked deserve, and wicked people receive what the righteous deserve. I said, 'This too is vanity.'
15 So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.
- 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.
- Eccl 4:7-82 verses74%
7 Again, I turned and saw meaninglessness under the sun.
8 There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!
- 74%
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.
- Eccl 6:11-122 verses74%
11 The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?
12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
- 74%
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?
- 74%
10 I have seen the burden that God has laid on the human race.
- Eccl 6:8-92 verses73%
8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?
9 Better is what the eyes see than the wandering of desire. This too is meaningless and a chasing after the wind.
- 73%
3 What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
- 73%
26 if I have looked at the sun when it shined, or the moon moving in splendor,
- 73%
13 In disquieting dreams from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men,
- 73%
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.
- 73%
5 Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, it has more rest than that man.
- 73%
32 I observed and took it to heart; I saw it and received instruction.
- 72%
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.
- 72%
12 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners.
- 72%
18 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.
- 72%
8 For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.