Ecclesiastes 8:17

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 labors to seek it out, yet he shall not find it. Yea moreover, though a wise man thinks to know it, yet he

A Conservative Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

16When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is he who sees sleep with his eyes neither day nor night),

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Cross References

Job 11:7Can thou find out God by searching? Can thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

Psalms 73:16When I thought how I might understand this, it was too painful for me,

Proverbs 30:3and I have not learned wisdom, nor have I the knowledge of the Holy.

Ecclesiastes 7:23All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.

Isaiah 40:28Have thou not known? Have thou not heard? The everlasting God, LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, nor is weary. There is no searching of his understanding.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 8:15-17

The Mysteries of Providence. 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. 15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. 16 When I… Read the whole commentary →

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