Ecclesiastes 1:13
And I gave my heart to searching out in wisdom all things which are done under heaven: it is a hard thing which God has put on the sons of men to do.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
In Context
12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
14I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.
Cross References
Genesis 3:19With the hard work of your hands you will get your bread till you go back to the earth from which you were taken: for dust you are and to the dust you will go back.
Proverbs 2:2So that your ear gives attention to wisdom, and your heart is turned to knowledge;
Proverbs 18:1He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.
Proverbs 23:26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes take delight in my ways.
Ecclesiastes 1:17And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:26To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 1:13-18
Vanity of Human Wisdom. 12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am… Read the whole commentary →