Ecclesiastes 1:13

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.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    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!

  • 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.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    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.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    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.

  • 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 task which God has given to the sons of men to be occupied with.
  • Eccl 1:17 : 17 And I set my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after wind.
  • Gen 3:19 : 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.
  • Eccl 7:25 : 25 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.
  • Eccl 8:16-17 : 16 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), 17 Then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. Even though a man labors to seek it out, he shall not find it; moreover, though a wise man thinks to know it, he shall not be able to find it.
  • Eccl 12:12 : 12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
  • 1 Tim 4:15 : 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
  • Eccl 8:9 : 9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man rules over another to his own harm.
  • Ps 111:2 : 2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out by all who have pleasure in them.
  • Prov 2:2-4 : 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;
  • Prov 4:7 : 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting, get understanding.
  • Prov 18:1 : 1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom.
  • Prov 18:15 : 15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
  • Prov 23:26 : 26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
  • Eccl 2:23 : 23 For all his days are sorrowful, and his work is burdensome; even at night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
  • Eccl 2:26 : 26 For God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and collecting, only to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
  • Eccl 4:4 : 4 Again, I considered all the toil and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 1:14-18
    5 verses
    88%

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

    15That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is lacking cannot be counted.

    16I communed with my own heart, saying, Look, I have attained great stature, and gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem: yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

    17And I set my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after wind.

    18For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

  • Eccl 2:17-26
    10 verses
    84%

    17Therefore I hated life, because the work that was done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

    18Yes, I hated all my labor that I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

    19And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I have labored and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

    20Therefore I turned my heart to despair over all the labor which I had done under the sun.

    21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill. Yet he must leave his inheritance to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

    22For what has man from all his labor, and of the striving of his heart with which he has labored under the sun?

    23For all his days are sorrowful, and his work is burdensome; even at night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

    24There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy the good of his labor. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.

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

    26For God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and collecting, only to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Eccl 2:9-13
    5 verses
    84%

    9So I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me.

    10And whatever my eyes desired, I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor.

    11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor I had toiled to do; and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

    12I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

    13Then I saw that wisdom excels folly just as light excels darkness.

  • Eccl 7:25
    84%

    25I 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.

  • Eccl 3:9-12
    4 verses
    83%

    9What profit does he have who works in that which he labors?

    10I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men to be occupied with.

    11He has made everything beautiful in its time: also he has set eternity in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God does from the beginning to the end.

    12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    82%

    16When 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),

    17Then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. Even though a man labors to seek it out, he shall not find it; moreover, though a wise man thinks to know it, he shall not be able to find it.

  • Eccl 2:3-4
    2 verses
    82%

    3I searched in my heart to give myself to wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what is good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

    4I made great works; I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

  • Eccl 1:12
    81%

    12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

  • Eccl 1:1-3
    3 verses
    80%

    1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

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

    3What profit does a man have from all his labor which he does under the sun?

  • Eccl 9:13
    80%

    13This wisdom I have seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me:

  • Eccl 2:15
    79%

    15So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me. And why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart, "This also is vanity."

  • Eccl 9:1
    79%

    1For all this I considered in my heart, even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God. No one knows either love or hatred by all that is before them.

  • Eccl 8:9
    79%

    9All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man rules over another to his own harm.

  • Eccl 2:1
    78%

    1I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure." And behold, this also is vanity.

  • Eccl 4:4
    77%

    4Again, I considered all the toil and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Eccl 3:18
    77%

    18I said in my heart concerning the condition of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are like beasts.

  • Eccl 12:8
    77%

    8Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.

  • Eccl 4:7
    77%

    7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

  • Eccl 6:1
    76%

    1There is an evil I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

  • Eccl 7:23
    75%

    23All this have I tested by wisdom. I said, 'I will be wise,' but it was far from me.

  • Eccl 3:22
    75%

    22Therefore I perceive that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what shall be after him?

  • Eccl 9:3
    75%

    3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes, 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 7:27
    75%

    27Behold, this have I found, says the preacher, counting one by one to find out the sum.

  • Eccl 1:9
    75%

    9The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

  • Eccl 6:11
    75%

    11Since there are many things that increase vanity, what advantage does man have?

  • Eccl 9:10
    74%

    10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you go.