Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly — I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
JPS TaNaKH 1917
In The King James Version
In Context
18For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Cross References
Psalms 73:16And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
Ecclesiastes 2:3I searched in my heart how to pamper my flesh with wine, and, my heart conducting itself with wisdom, how yet to lay hold on folly, till I might see which it was best for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven the few days of their life.
Ecclesiastes 2:11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 3:19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 6:9Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 7:25I turned about, and applied my heart to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
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 →