Ecclesiastes 8:16

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth (even though eyes see no sleep day or night),

World English Bible British with Deuterocanon

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 commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat, to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labour all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

17then I saw all the work of God, that man can’t find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labours to seek it out, yet he won’t find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won’t be able to find it.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 8

Cross References

Psalms 127:2It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.

Ecclesiastes 1:17I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labour and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

Ecclesiastes 7:25I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

Ecclesiastes 8:9All this I have seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

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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