Ecclesiastes 1:16

Geneva Bible (1560)

I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold, I am become great, and excell in wisdome all them that haue bene before me in Ierusalem: and mine heart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 2:9 : 9 And I was great, & increased aboue all that were before me in Ierusalem: also my wisedome remained with me.
  • 1 Kgs 4:30 : 30 And Salomons wisdome excelled the wisedome of all the children of the East and all the wisedome of Egypt.
  • 1 Kgs 10:7 : 7 Howebeit I beleeued not this report till I came, & had seene it with mine eyes: but lo, ye one halfe was not tolde mee: for thou hast more wisedome & prosperitie, then I haue heard by report.
  • 1 Kgs 3:12-13 : 12 Beholde, I haue done according to thy wordes: lo, I haue giuen thee a wise and an vnderstanding heart, so that there hath bene none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall arise the like vnto thee. 13 And I haue also giuen thee that, which thou hast not asked, both riches and honour, so that among the Kings there shall be none like vnto thee all thy dayes.
  • Isa 10:7-9 : 7 But he thinketh not so, neither doeth his heart esteeme it so: but he imagineth to destroy and to cut off not a fewe nations. 8 For he sayeth, Are not my princes altogether Kings? 9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus? 10 Like as mine hand hath founde the kingdomes of the idoles, seeing their idoles were aboue Ierusalem, and aboue Samaria: 11 Shall not I, as I haue done to Samaria, and to the idoles thereof, so doe to Ierusalem and to the idoles thereof? 12 But when the Lorde hath accomplished all his worke vpon mount Zion and Ierusalem, I will visite the fruite of the proude heart of the King of Asshur, and his glorious and proud lookes, 13 Because he said, By ye power of mine owne hand haue I done it, and by my wisdome, because I am wise: therefore I haue remooued the borders of the people, and haue spoyled their treasures, and haue pulled downe the inhabitants like a valiant man. 14 And mine hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people, and as one gathereth egges that are left, so haue I gathered all the earth: and there was none to mooue the wing or to open the mouth, or to whisper.
  • Jer 22:14 : 14 He saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers: so he will make him selfe large windowes, and feeling with cedar, and paint them with vermilion.
  • Ezek 38:10-11 : 10 Thus saith the Lorde God, Euen at ye same time shall many things come into thy minde, and thou shalt thinke euil thoughts. 11 And thou shalt say, I wil go vp to the land that hath no walled towres: I will goe to them that are at rest, and dwell in safetie, which dwell all without walles, and haue neither barres nor gates,
  • Dan 4:30 : 30 (4:27) And the King spake and sayde, Is not this great Babel, that I haue built for the house of the kingdome by the might of my power, and for the honour of my maiestie?
  • Heb 5:14 : 14 But strong meate belongeth to them that are of age, which through long custome haue their wits exercised, to discerne both good and euill.
  • 1 Kgs 10:23-24 : 23 So King Salomon exceeded all the kings of the earth both in riches and in wisedome. 24 And al the world sought to see Salomon, to heare his wisedome, which God had put in his heart,
  • 2 Kgs 5:20 : 20 And Gehazi the seruant of Elisha the man of God sayde, Beholde, my master hath spared this Aramite Naaman, receiuing not those things at his hand that he brought: as the Lord liueth, I will runne after him, and take somewhat of him.
  • 2 Chr 1:10-12 : 10 Giue me now wisdome & knowledge, that I may go out and go in before this people: for who can iudge this thy great people? 11 And God sayde to Salomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, treasures nor honour, nor the liues of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life, but hast asked for thee wisdome & knowledge that thou mightest iudge my people, ouer whome I haue made thee King, 12 Wisdome and knowledge is granted vnto thee, and I will giue thee riches and treasures and honour, so that there hath not bene the like among the Kings which were before thee, neither after thee shal there be the like.
  • 2 Chr 2:12 : 12 Huram sayd moreouer, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which made the heauen and the earth, and that hath giuen vnto Dauid the King a wise sonne, that hath discretion, prudence and vnderstanding to buylde an house for the Lorde, and a palace for his kingdome.
  • 2 Chr 9:22-23 : 22 So King Salomon excelled all the Kings of the earth in riches and wisedome. 23 And all the Kings of the earth sought the presence of Salomon, to heare his wisedome that God had put in his heart.
  • Ps 4:4 : 4 Tremble, and sinne not: examine your owne heart vpon your bed, and be still. Selah.
  • Ps 77:6 : 6 I called to remembrance my song in the night: I communed with mine owne heart, and my spirit searched diligently.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 1:17-18
    2 verses
    86%

    17And I gaue mine heart to knowe wisdome and knowledge, madnes and foolishnes: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.

    18For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.

  • Eccl 2:7-15
    9 verses
    86%

    7I haue gotten seruants and maides, and had children borne in the house: also I had great possession of beeues and sheepe aboue all that were before me in Ierusalem.

    8I haue gathered vnto me also siluer and gold, and the chiefe treasures of Kings & prouinces: I haue prouided me men singers and women singers, and the delites of the sonnes of men, as a woman taken captiue, & women taken captiues.

    9And I was great, & increased aboue all that were before me in Ierusalem: also my wisedome remained with me.

    10And whatsoeuer mine eyes desired, I withheld it not from them: I withdrew not mine heart from any ioy: for mine heart reioyced in al my labour: & this was my portion of all my trauaile.

    11Then I looked on all my workes that mine hands had wrought, and on the trauaile that I had laboured to doe: and beholde, all is vanitie and vexation of the spirit: and there is no profite vnder the sunne.

    12And I turned to beholde wisedome, and madnes and follie: (for who is the man that will come after the King in things, which men nowe haue done?)

    13Then I saw that there is profite in wisdome, more then in follie: as the light is more excellent then darkenes.

    14For the wise mans eyes are in his head, but the foole walketh in darknes: yet I know also that the same condition falleth to them all.

    15Then I thought in mine heart, It befalleth vnto me, as it befalleth to ye foole. Why therefore doe I then labour to be more wise? And I sayd in mine heart, that this also is vanitie.

  • Eccl 1:12-15
    4 verses
    81%

    12I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:

    13And 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)

    14I haue considered all the workes that are done vnder the sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.

    15That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.

  • Eccl 7:25
    80%

    25(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,

  • Eccl 2:1-4
    4 verses
    78%

    1I said in mine heart, Goe to nowe, I will proue thee with ioy: therefore take thou pleasure in pleasant things: and beholde, this also is vanitie.

    2I saide of laughter, Thou art mad: and of ioy, What is this that thou doest?

    3I sought in mine heart to giue my selfe to wine, and to leade mine heart in wisdome, and to take holde of follie, till I might see where is that goodnesse of the children of men, which they enioy vnder the sunne: the whole nomber of the dayes of their life.

    4I haue made my great workes: I haue built me houses: I haue planted me vineyards.

  • Eccl 7:23
    77%

    23(7:2) All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I thought I will be wise, but it went farre from me.

  • Eccl 9:13
    76%

    13I haue also seene this wisedome vnder the sunne, and it is great vnto me.

  • Eccl 2:19-21
    3 verses
    75%

    19And who knoweth whether he shalbe wise or foolish? yet shall hee haue rule ouer all my labour, wherein I haue trauailed, and wherein I haue shewed my selfe wise vnder the sunne. This is also vanitie.

    20Therefore I went about to make mine heart abhorre all the labour, wherein I had trauailed vnder the sunne.

    21For there is a man whose trauaile is in wisdome, and in knowledge and in equitie: yet to a man that hath not trauailed herein, shal he giue his portion: this also is vanitie and a great griefe.

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    75%

    16When 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,

    17Then I behelde the whole worke of God, that man cannot finde out ye worke that is wrought vnder the sunne: for the which man laboureth to seeke it, and cannot finde it: yea, and though the wise man thinke to knowe it, he cannot finde it.

  • 2 Chr 1:10-12
    3 verses
    74%

    10Giue me now wisdome & knowledge, that I may go out and go in before this people: for who can iudge this thy great people?

    11And God sayde to Salomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, treasures nor honour, nor the liues of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life, but hast asked for thee wisdome & knowledge that thou mightest iudge my people, ouer whome I haue made thee King,

    12Wisdome and knowledge is granted vnto thee, and I will giue thee riches and treasures and honour, so that there hath not bene the like among the Kings which were before thee, neither after thee shal there be the like.

  • Eccl 2:25
    74%

    25For who could eate, and who could haste to outward things more then I?

  • 1 Kgs 3:12
    74%

    12Beholde, I haue done according to thy wordes: lo, I haue giuen thee a wise and an vnderstanding heart, so that there hath bene none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall arise the like vnto thee.

  • Job 31:25
    74%

    25If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,

  • Prov 8:12
    74%

    12I wisdome dwell with prudence, and I find foorth knowledge and counsels.

  • Eccl 1:1-2
    2 verses
    73%

    1The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.

    2Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.

  • Prov 8:14
    72%

    14I haue counsell and wisedome: I am vnderstanding, and I haue strength.

  • Job 13:1
    72%

    1Loe, mine eye hath seene all this: mine eare hath heard, and vnderstande it.

  • Eccl 3:18
    72%

    18I considered in mine heart the state of the children of men that God had purged them: yet to see to, they are in themselues as beastes.

  • Eccl 7:11
    72%

    11(7:13) Wisedome is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sunne.

  • Job 12:3
    72%

    3But I haue vnderstanding aswel as you, and am not inferior vnto you: yea, who knoweth not such things?

  • Eccl 9:16
    72%

    16Then said I, Better is wisdome then stregth: yet the wisedome of the poore is despised, and his wordes are not heard.

  • 2 Chr 9:22
    72%

    22So King Salomon excelled all the Kings of the earth in riches and wisedome.

  • Prov 16:16
    72%

    16Howe much better is it to get wisedome then golde? and to get vnderstanding, is more to be desired then siluer.

  • Eccl 6:8
    71%

    8For what hath the wise man more then the foole? what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the liuing?

  • Prov 1:2
    71%

    2To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,

  • 2 Chr 9:6
    71%

    6Howbeit I beleeued not their report, vntil I came, and mine eyes had seene it: & beholde, the one halfe of thy great wisedom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

  • Eccl 9:1
    71%

    1I haue surely giuen mine heart to all this, and to declare all this, that the iust, and the wise, and their workes are in the hand of God: and no man knoweth eyther loue or hatred of all that is before them.

  • Eccl 12:8
    71%

    8Vanitie of vanities, saieth the Preacher, all is vanitie.

  • Eccl 2:17
    71%

    17Therefore I hated life: for the worke that is wrought vnder the sunne is grieuous vnto me: for all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.