Ecclesiastes 1:17

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 2:3 : 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.
  • Eccl 2:10-12 : 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.
  • 1 Thess 5:21 : 21 Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
  • Eccl 1:13-14 : 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.
  • Eccl 7:23-25 : 23 All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me. 24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out? 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.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 7:23-25
    3 verses
    88%

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

    24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

    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 1:12-16
    5 verses
    88%

    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.

    16 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."

  • Eccl 1:18
    85%

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

  • Eccl 2:9-17
    9 verses
    84%

    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.

    16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!

    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.

  • Eccl 2:1-4
    4 verses
    83%

    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 2:19-22
    4 verses
    82%

    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.

    22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    80%

    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.

  • Eccl 1:2-3
    2 verses
    78%

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

    3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

  • Eccl 2:25-26
    2 verses
    77%

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

    26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

  • Eccl 9:13
    77%

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

  • Eccl 4:4
    76%

    4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 6:8-9
    2 verses
    76%

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

    9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

  • Eccl 4:7
    76%

    7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

  • Eccl 12:8
    76%

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

  • Eccl 9:1
    76%

    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 7:4
    75%

    4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

  • Eccl 3:18
    75%

    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.

  • Ps 73:16
    75%

    16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;

  • Prov 1:2
    75%

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

  • Prov 19:3
    75%

    3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.

  • Prov 18:2
    74%

    2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

  • Eccl 3:12
    74%

    12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.

  • Eccl 8:9
    73%

    9 All this have I seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

  • Eccl 3:10
    73%

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

  • Eccl 9:3
    73%

    3 This is an evil in all that is 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 6:11
    73%

    11 For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?