Verse 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.

Other Translations

• GT, oversatt fra Hebraisk

  Så jeg så hele Guds gjerning, at mennesket kan ikke forstå det arbeidet som skjer under solen. For uansett hvor mye folk prøver å søke det, vil de ikke finne det. Selv om de vise ofte prøver å forstå, vil de ikke oppdage det.

• Moderne oversettelse av Bibelen fra 1611 KJV med hebraisk kontekst

  så så jeg alt Guds arbeid, at mennesket ikke kan forstå det arbeid som blir gjort under solen; for selv om en mann jobber med å søke det, vil han ikke finne det; ja, selv om en vis mann tror at han vet det, vil han ikke kunne finne det.

• Norsk King James

  Da så jeg hele Guds verk, at en mann ikke kan forstå arbeidet som utføres under solen; for selv om en mann arbeider for å søke det, skal han ikke finne det; ja, videre, selv om en vis mann tror han forstår det, skal han ikke kunne finne det.

• Modernisert Norsk Bibel 1866

  så jeg Guds verk, at mennesket ikke kan finne ut hva som skjer under solen. Selv om han strever med å finne det, kan han ikke finne det; ja, selv om den vise sier han forstår det, kan han likevel ikke finne det ut.

• Oversettelse av hebraiske Bibeltekster til moderne norsk bokmål

  så jeg alt Guds verk, at mennesket ikke kan fatte det verk som blir gjort under solen. Om mennesker anstrenger seg i sitt forsøk på å forstå, finner de det ikke ut. Men hvis de vise sier de forstår, de kan ikke finne det ut.

• Bibelen: En Moderne Oversettelse av King James Version 1611

  da så jeg på alt Guds verk, at man ikke kan finne ut hva som skjer under solen; for selv om en mann strever for å søke det, skal han ikke finne det; ja, selv om en vis mann tror han vet det, skal han ikke være i stand til å finne det ut.

• o3-mini KJV Norsk

  Da så jeg alt Guds verk og forsto at en mann ikke kan gjennomskue alt som skjer under solen; selv om han legger ned en stor innsats for å forstå det, vil han likevel ikke klare det – ja, selv den vise kan ikke finne ut av det.

• En Moderne Oversettelse av King James Version 1611 (mar 2025)

  da så jeg på alt Guds verk, at man ikke kan finne ut hva som skjer under solen; for selv om en mann strever for å søke det, skal han ikke finne det; ja, selv om en vis mann tror han vet det, skal han ikke være i stand til å finne det ut.

• Lingvistisk bibeloversettelse fra grunntekst

  da så jeg hele Guds verk, at mennesket ikke kan finne ut av det verk som er gjort under solen. Selv om mennesket jobber hardt for å søke det, kan han ikke finne det ut. Selv om den vise sier han vet, kan han ikke finne det ut.

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.

• biblecontext

  { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.8.17", "source": "וְרָאִיתִי֮ אֶת־כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִים֒ כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יוּכַ֜ל הָאָדָ֗ם לִמְצוֹא֙ אֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֣ה תַֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ בְּ֠שֶׁל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲמֹ֧ל הָאָדָ֛ם לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ וְלֹ֣א יִמְצָ֑א וְגַ֨ם אִם־יֹאמַ֤ר הֶֽחָכָם֙ לָדַ֔עַת לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִמְצֹֽא׃", "text": "And-*rāʾîtî* *ʾet*-all-*maʿăśēh* the-*ʾĕlōhîm* *kî* not *yûkal* the-*ʾādām* to-*limṣôʾ* *ʾet*-the-*maʿăśeh* *ʾăšer* *naʿăśāh* *taḥat*-the-*šemeš* because *ʾăšer* *yaʿămōl* the-*ʾādām* to-*lĕbaqqēš* and-not *yimṣāʾ* and-also if-*yōʾmar* the-*ḥākām* to-*lādaʿat* not *yûkal* to-*limṣōʾ*", "grammar": { "*rāʾîtî*": "qal perfect, 1st person singular - I saw", "*maʿăśēh*": "noun, masculine singular construct - work/deed of", "*ʾĕlōhîm*": "noun, masculine plural - God/gods", "*kî*": "conjunction - for/because/that", "*yûkal*": "qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he is able", "*ʾādām*": "noun, masculine singular - man/mankind", "*limṣôʾ*": "qal infinitive construct - to find", "*maʿăśeh*": "noun, masculine singular - work/deed", "*ʾăšer*": "relative particle - that/which", "*naʿăśāh*": "niphal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - is done", "*taḥat*": "preposition - under", "*šemeš*": "noun, feminine singular - sun", "*yaʿămōl*": "qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he labors", "*lĕbaqqēš*": "piel infinitive construct - to seek", "*yimṣāʾ*": "qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he finds", "*yōʾmar*": "qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he says", "*ḥākām*": "adjective, masculine singular - wise man", "*lādaʿat*": "qal infinitive construct - to know" }, "variants": { "*rāʾîtî*": "I saw/I observed/I perceived", "*maʿăśēh*": "work/deed/activity/action", "*ʾĕlōhîm*": "God/gods/divine being(s)", "*yûkal*": "is able/can/is capable", "*ʾādām*": "man/mankind/humanity", "*limṣôʾ*": "to find/to discover/to attain", "*naʿăśāh*": "is done/is performed/happens", "*šemeš*": "sun", "*yaʿămōl*": "he labors/he toils/he works hard", "*lĕbaqqēš*": "to seek/to search for/to try to find", "*yimṣāʾ*": "he finds/he discovers/he attains", "*yōʾmar*": "he says/he claims/he thinks", "*ḥākām*": "wise man/sage", "*lādaʿat*": "to know/to understand/to comprehend" } }

• GT, oversatt fra hebraisk Aug2024

  Så jeg så alt Guds verk, at mennesket ikke kan finne ut de gjerninger som gjøres under solen, for uansett hvor mye mennesket strever med å søke, kan ikke finne det ut. Ja, selv om han sier til den vise at han vet, kan han ikke finne det ut.

• Original Norsk Bibel 1866

  da saae jeg al Guds Gjerning, at et Menneske ikke kan udfinde den Gjerning, som skeer under Solen, som Mennesket arbeider paa at opsøge, men kan ikke finde den, ja og, om den Vise vilde sige sig at forstaae den, kan han dog ikke finde den.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: bause though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

• KJV 1769 norsk

  Da betraktet jeg alt Guds verk, at et menneske ikke kan finne ut verket som gjøres under solen: fordi selv om et menneske strever for å finne det, skal han ikke finne det; ja, selv om en vis mann tror han vet det, skal han likevel ikke være i stand til å finne det.

• Norsk oversettelse av Webster

  da så jeg alle Guds gjerninger, at mennesket ikke kan finne ut av det arbeidet som blir gjort under solen; for uansett hvor mye en mann strever etter å finne det ut, vil han ikke klare det. Ja, selv om en vis mann tror han kan forstå det, vil han ikke kunne finne det.

• Norsk oversettelse av Youngs Literal Translation

  så betraktet jeg alt Guds verk, at mennesket ikke er i stand til å forstå verket som er blitt gjort under solen, for selv om mennesket anstrenger seg for å søke, finner han ikke ut av det; og selv om den vise sier han forstår, kan han ikke finne det ut.

• Norsk oversettelse av ASV1901

  så skuedde jeg all Guds gjerning, at mennesket ikke kan finne ut hva som gjøres under solen: hvor mye en mann enn strever for å finne det, kan han likevel ikke finne det; ja, selv om en klok mann tenker å kjenne det, vil han ikke være i stand til å finne det.

• Norsk oversettelse av BBE

  Da så jeg alt Guds arbeid, og at mennesket ikke kan få kunnskap om det arbeidet som gjøres under solen; for selv om en mann legger mye arbeid i å søke, vil han ikke få kunnskap, og selv om den vise mannen synes å komme til slutten av sin søken, vil han fortsatt være uten kunnskap.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  I vnderstode of all ye workes of God, that it is not possible for a man, to attayne vnto ye workes that are done vnder ye Sonne: and though he bestowe his laboure to seke them out, yet can he not reach vnto the: yee though a wyse man wolde vndertake to knowe them, yet might he not fynde them.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then I behelde the whole worke of God, that man cannot finde out ye worke that is wrought vnder the sunne: for the which man laboureth to seeke it, and cannot finde it: yea, and though the wise man thinke to knowe it, he cannot finde it.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  I vnderstoode of all the workes of God, but it is not possible for a man to attayne vnto the workes that are done vnder the sunne: and though he bestowe his labour to seeke them out, yet can he not reach vnto them: yea though a wyse man would vndertake to know them, yet shall he not finde them.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek [it] out, yet he shall not find [it]; yea further; though a wise [man] think to know [it], yet shall he not be able to find [it].

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  then I considered all the work of God, that man is not able to find out the work that hath been done under the sun, because though man labour to seek, yet he doth not find; and even though the wise man speak of knowing he is not able to find.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then I saw all the work of God, and that man may not get knowledge of the work which is done under the sun; because, if a man gives hard work to the search he will not get knowledge, and even if the wise man seems to be coming to the end of his search, still he will be without knowledge.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  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.

Referenced Verses

• Eccl 3:11 : 11 He 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.
• Ps 73:16 : 16 When I thought to understand this, it was too painful for me;
• Rom 11:33 : 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
• Job 5:9 : 9 Who does great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number:
• Eccl 7:23-24 : 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?
• Eccl 11:5 : 5 As you do not know the way of the spirit, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
• Isa 40:28 : 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint nor is weary? His understanding is unsearchable.
• Job 11:7-9 : 7 Can you by searching find out God? Can you find out the Almighty to perfection? 8 It is as high as heaven; what can you do? Deeper than the grave; what can you know? 9 Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
• Ps 40:5 : 5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts which are toward us: they cannot be counted in order to You: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
• Ps 104:24 : 24 O LORD, how manifold are Your works! in wisdom You have made them all: the earth is full of Your riches.
• Prov 30:3-4 : 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you can tell?