Ecclesiastes 1:13
And I directed my heart to inquire and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this is an evil employment which God hath given to the sons of man to busy themselves therewith.
Leeser Tanakh
In The King James Version
In Context
12I Koheleth was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Cross References
Genesis 3:19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground, for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Proverbs 2:2To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: [if] thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.
Proverbs 18:1He that separateth himself [from God] seeketh his own desires: at every sound wisdom is he enraged.
Proverbs 23:26Give, my son, thy heart unto me, and let thy eyes watch my ways.
Ecclesiastes 1:17And I directed my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; [but] I have perceived that this also is a torture of the spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2:26For to a man who is good in his presence [God] giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth employment, to gather up and to bring together, that he may give it to him that is good before God. Also this is vanity and a torture of the spirit.
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 →