Ecclesiastes 7:27
The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item.
Additional Resources
Referenced Verses
- Eccl 1:1-2 : 1 ¶ Title The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2 Introduction: Utter Futility“Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,“Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”
- Eccl 12:8-9 : 8 Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,“All of these things are futile!” 9 Concluding Epilogue: Qoheleth’s Advice is Wise Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs. 10 The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 7:28-292 verses88%
28 What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only one upright man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.
29 This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes.
- Eccl 7:23-264 verses81%
23 Human Wisdom is Limited I have examined all this by wisdom; I said,“I am determined to comprehend this”– but it was beyond my grasp.
24 Whatever has happened is beyond human understanding; it is far deeper than anyone can fathom.
25 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.
26 I discovered this: More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter’s snare; her heart is like a hunter’s net and her hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is captured by her.
- Eccl 1:12-176 verses75%
12 Futility of Secular Accomplishment I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 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.
14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!
15 What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.
16 Futility of Secular Wisdom I thought to myself,“I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”
17 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!
- Eccl 8:16-172 verses75%
16 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–
17 then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.
- Prov 7:6-83 verses72%
6 For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out
7 and I saw among the naive– I discerned among the youths– a young man who lacked sense.
8 He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house
- Eccl 12:8-103 verses71%
8 Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,“All of these things are futile!”
9 Concluding Epilogue: Qoheleth’s Advice is Wise Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs.
10 The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings.
- Eccl 2:10-123 verses71%
10 I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
11 Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”
12 Wisdom is Better than Folly Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?
- Eccl 7:13-153 verses71%
13 Wisdom Acknowledges God’s Orchestration of Life Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent?
14 In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.
15 Exceptions to the Law of Retribution During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.
- 71%
10 Anticipation of Death“But turn, all of you, and come now! I will not find a wise man among you.
- Eccl 4:7-82 verses70%
7 Labor Motivated by Greed So I again considered another futile thing on earth:
8 A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments,“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!
- 70%
35 For the one who finds me has found life and received favor from the LORD.
- Eccl 1:1-33 verses70%
1 ¶ Title The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 Introduction: Utter Futility“Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,“Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”
3 Futility Illustrated from Nature What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?
- 70%
1 Not Everyone Enjoys Life Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:
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15 That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you!
- 70%
13 Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:
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27 Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good.”
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10 Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent.
- 69%
1 Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.
- 69%
17 So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.
- 69%
11 The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?
- 69%
20 So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.
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10 The Wife of Noble Character Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies.
- 69%
22 The one who has found a good wife has found what goodness is, and obtained a delightful gift from the LORD.
- 68%
9 While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.
- 68%
3 I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine(all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.
- 68%
3 But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.
- 68%
10 I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.
- 68%
12 at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.)
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31 Yet if he is caught he must repay seven times over, he might even have to give all the wealth of his house.