Ecclesiastes 8:16

Whereupon I set my heart to know wisdom, and to perceive the trouble that was wrought upon the earth: for there is that neither by day nor night sees sleep with his eyes.

LXX2012 (US English)

In The King James Version

When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

In Context

15Then I praised mirth, because there is no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry: and this shall attend him in his labor all the days of his life, which God has given him under the sun.

17And I saw all the works of God, that a man shall not be able to discover the work which is wrought under the sun; whatever things a man shall endeavor to seek, however a man may labor to seek it, yet he shall not find it; yes, how much soever a wise man may speak of knowing it, he shall not be able to find it: for I applied all this to my heart, and my heart has seen all this.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 8

Cross References

Psalms 127:2You shall eat the + 127:2 Alex. fruits of your labors. labors of your hands: blessed are you, and it shall be well with you. 1

Ecclesiastes 1:17And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 4:8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.

Ecclesiastes 7:25That which is far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?

Ecclesiastes 8:9So I saw all this, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun; all the things wherein man has power over man to afflict him.

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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 8:16