Ecclesiastes 1:17

yea I have given my heart, to know wisdom, and to know madness, and folly,—I know that, even this, is a feeding on wind.

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

In The King James Version

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

In Context

16Spake, I, in my heart, saying, As for me, lo! I have become great, and have gathered wisdom, beyond any one who hath been before me over Jerusalem,—and, my heart, hath seen much wisdom and knowledge:

18For, in much wisdom, is much vexation,—and, he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth pain.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 1

Cross References

Psalms 73:16When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:

Ecclesiastes 2:3I sought out with my heart, to cherish with wine, my flesh,—but, my heart, was to guide with wisdom, even in laying hold of folly, until I should see which was blessedness for the sons of men, as to that which they could do, under the heavens, during the number of the days of their life.

Ecclesiastes 2:11When, I, looked upon all my works, which my hands had made, and on my toil, whereon I had toilsomely wrought, then lo! all, was vanity, and feeding on wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 3:19For, as regardeth the destiny of the sons of men and the destiny of beasts, one fate, have they, as dieth the one, so, dieth the other, and, one spirit, have they all,—and, the pre-eminence of man over beast, is nothing, for, all, were vanity:

Ecclesiastes 6:9Better what the eyes behold, than the wandering of desire,—even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 7:25Resolved, I, in my heart, to know and search out, and to seek wisdom, and a conclusion,—and to know lawlessness [to be] stupidity, and folly 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 →

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