Ecclesiastes 1:13
And I gave my heart to seek and to search out, wisely, concerning all things which are done under the heavens,—the same, is the vexatious employment God hath given to the sons of men, to work toilsomely therein,
The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham
In The King James Version
In Context
12I, the Proclaimer, was king over Israel, in Jerusalem.
14I saw all the works which were done under the sun,—and lo! all, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
Cross References
Genesis 3:19In the sweat of thy face, shalt thou eat bread, until thou return to the ground, because therefrom, wast thou taken,—For, dust, thou art, And, unto dust, shalt thou return.
Proverbs 2:2So that thou direct, unto wisdom, thine ear, bend thy heart, unto understanding;
Proverbs 18:1A man seeketh, for satisfaction, going his own way, through all safe counsel, he breaketh.
Proverbs 23:26Oh give, my son, thy mind unto me, and let, thine eyes, observe, my ways;
Ecclesiastes 1:17yea I have given my heart, to know wisdom, and to know madness, and folly,—I know that, even this, is a feeding on wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:26For, to a man who is good before him, hath he given wisdom and knowledge and gladness,—whereas, to the sinner, he hath given employment, to gather and heap up, to give to one who is good before God, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on 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 →