Ecclesiastes 1:16

World English Bible (2000)

I said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."

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Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 2:9 : 9 So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
  • 1 Kgs 4:30 : 30 Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
  • 1 Kgs 10:7 : 7 However I didn't believe the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it. Behold, the half was not told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
  • 1 Kgs 3:12-13 : 12 behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you. 13 I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you, all your days.
  • Isa 10:7-9 : 7 However he doesn't mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations. 8 For he says, "Aren't all of my princes kings? 9 Isn't Calno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like Arpad? Isn't Samaria like Damascus?" 10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose engraved images exceeded those of Jerusalem and of Samaria; 11 shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? 12 Therefore it will happen that, when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the willful proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the insolence of his haughty looks. 13 For he has said, "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I have brought down their rulers. 14 My hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, have I gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped."
  • Jer 22:14 : 14 who says, I will build me a wide house and spacious rooms, and cuts him out windows; and it is ceiling with cedar, and painted with vermilion.
  • Ezek 38:10-11 : 10 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: It shall happen in that day, that things shall come into your mind, and you shall devise an evil device: 11 and you shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates;
  • Dan 4:30 : 30 The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
  • Heb 5:14 : 14 But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
  • 1 Kgs 10:23-24 : 23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 24 All the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
  • 2 Kgs 5:20 : 20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take something from him."
  • 2 Chr 1:10-12 : 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this your people, that is so great?" 11 God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of those who hate you, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king: 12 wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you; neither shall there any after you have the like."
  • 2 Chr 2:12 : 12 Huram continued, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, that should build a house for Yahweh, and a house for his kingdom.
  • 2 Chr 9:22-23 : 22 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
  • Ps 4:4 : 4 Stand in awe, and don't sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.
  • Ps 77:6 : 6 I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires:

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%

    17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

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

  • Eccl 2:7-15
    9 verses
    86%

    7 I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem;

    8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men--musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

    9 So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.

    10 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn't keep from them. I didn't withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

    11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

    12 I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

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

    14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness--and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.

    15 Then I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

  • Eccl 1:12-15
    4 verses
    81%

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

    13 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.

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

    15 That which is crooked can't be made straight; and that which is lacking can't be counted.

  • Eccl 7:25
    80%

    25 I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

  • Eccl 2:1-4
    4 verses
    78%

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

    2 I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"

    3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

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

  • Eccl 7:23
    77%

    23 All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.

  • Eccl 9:13
    76%

    13 I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.

  • Eccl 2:19-21
    3 verses
    75%

    19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of 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 began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.

    21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    75%

    16 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),

    17 then I saw all the work of God, that man can't find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won't find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won't be able to find it.

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

    10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this your people, that is so great?"

    11 God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of those who hate you, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king:

    12 wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you; neither shall there any after you have the like."

  • Eccl 2:25
    74%

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

  • 1 Kgs 3:12
    74%

    12 behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.

  • Job 31:25
    74%

    25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

  • Prov 8:12
    74%

    12 "I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

  • Eccl 1:1-2
    2 verses
    73%

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

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

  • Prov 8:14
    72%

    14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.

  • Job 13:1
    72%

    1 "Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

  • Eccl 3:18
    72%

    18 I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

  • Eccl 7:11
    72%

    11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

  • Job 12:3
    72%

    3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn't know such things as these?

  • Eccl 9:16
    72%

    16 Then I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

  • 2 Chr 9:22
    72%

    22 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

  • Prov 16:16
    72%

    16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

  • Eccl 6:8
    71%

    8 For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

  • Prov 1:2
    71%

    2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;

  • 2 Chr 9:6
    71%

    6 However I didn't believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me: you exceed the fame that I heard.

  • Eccl 9:1
    71%

    1 For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn't know it; all is before them.

  • Eccl 12:8
    71%

    8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher. "All is vanity!"

  • Eccl 2:17
    71%

    17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.