Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I set my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after wind.
Additional Resources
Other Translations
Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts
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.
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
And I applied{H5414} my heart{H3820} to know{H3045} wisdom,{H2451} and to know{H3045} madness{H1947} and folly:{H5531} I perceived{H3045} that this{H1571} also was a striving{H7475} after wind.{H7307}
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
And I gave{H5414}{(H8799)} my heart{H3820} to know{H3045}{(H8800)} wisdom{H2451}, and to know{H3045}{(H8800)} madness{H1947} and folly{H5531}: I perceived{H3045}{(H8804)} that this{H1571} also is vexation{H7475} of spirit{H7307}.
Coverdale Bible (1535)
for there vnto I applyed my mynde: yt I might knowe what were wy?dome & vnderstodinge, what were error & foolishnes. And I perceaued yt this also was but a vexacion of mynde:
Geneva Bible (1560)
And I gaue mine heart to knowe wisdome and knowledge, madnes and foolishnes: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.
Bishops' Bible (1568)
Yea, my heart had great experience of wisdome & knowledge: for thervnto I applied my mynde, that I myght knowe what were wisdome and vnderstandyng, what were errour and foolishnesse: and I perceaued that this was also but a vexation of mynde.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
Webster's Bible (1833)
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this `is' vexation of spirit;
American Standard Version (1901)
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
American Standard Version (1901)
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
Bible in Basic English (1941)
And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.
World English Bible (2000)
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!
Referenced Verses
- Eccl 2:3 : 3 I 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.
- Eccl 2:10-12 : 10 And 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. 11 Then 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. 12 I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.
- 1 Thess 5:21 : 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
- Eccl 1:13-14 : 13 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. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
- Eccl 7:23-25 : 23 All this have I tested by wisdom. I said, 'I will be wise,' but it was far from me. 24 That which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out? 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.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 7:23-253 verses88%
23 All this have I tested by wisdom. I said, 'I will be wise,' but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?
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 1:12-165 verses88%
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 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.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I 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.
- 85%
18 For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
- Eccl 2:9-179 verses84%
9 So I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me.
10 And 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.
11 Then 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.
12 I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.
13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly just as light excels darkness.
14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived that the same event happens to them all.
15 So 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."
16 For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since what now is will all be forgotten in the days to come. And how does the wise man die? Just like the fool.
17 Therefore I hated life, because the work that was done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Eccl 2:1-44 verses83%
1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure." And behold, this also is vanity.
2 I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
3 I 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.
4 I made great works; I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.
- Eccl 2:19-224 verses82%
19 And 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.
20 Therefore I turned my heart to despair over all the labor which I had done under the sun.
21 For 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.
22 For what has man from all his labor, and of the striving of his heart with which he has labored under the sun?
- Eccl 8:16-172 verses80%
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 1:2-32 verses78%
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit does a man have from all his labor which he does under the sun?
- Eccl 2:25-262 verses77%
25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
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.
- 77%
13 This wisdom I have seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me:
- 76%
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.
- Eccl 6:8-92 verses76%
8 For what has the wise more than the fool? what does the poor have, who knows to walk before the living?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire: this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- 76%
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
- 76%
8 Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.
- 76%
1 For 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.
- 75%
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of laughter.
- 75%
18 I 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.
- 75%
16 When I thought to understand this, it was too painful for me;
- 75%
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
- 75%
3 The foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart frets against the LORD.
- 74%
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may express itself.
- 74%
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.
- 73%
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.
- 73%
10 I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men to be occupied with.
- 73%
3 This 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.
- 73%
11 Since there are many things that increase vanity, what advantage does man have?