Ecclesiastes 1:13
and I purposed in my soul to seek and ensearch wisely of all things, that be made under the sun. God gave this evil occupation to the sons of men, that they should be occupied therein. (and I purposed in my mind to wisely seek out and to search into everything, that is done under the sun. God gave this difficult task to the sons and daughters of men, so that they would be occupied with it.)
Wycliffe Modern Spelling
In The King James Version
In Context
12I Ecclesiastes was king of Israel in Jerusalem;
Cross References
Genesis 3:19in [the] sweat of thy cheer, [or (thy) face], thou shalt eat thy bread, till thou turn again into the earth of which thou art taken; for thou art dust, and thou shalt turn again into dust. (by the sweat of thy brow, thou shalt earn thy bread, until thou return to the earth of which thou art taken; for thou art dust, and thou shalt return to dust.)
Proverbs 2:2(so) that thine ear hear wisdom, bow (down) thine heart to know prudence.
Proverbs 18:1He that will go away from a friend, seeketh occasions, that is, feigneth causes, ( or looketh for reasons); in all time he shall be despisable.
Proverbs 23:26My son, give thine heart to me, and thine eyes keep my ways.
Ecclesiastes 1:17And I gave mine heart, that I should know prudence and doctrine, and errors and folly. And I knew that in these things also was travail and torment of spirit; (And I gave my heart, or I applied my mind, so that I would understand wisdom and doctrine, and errors and foolishness. And I learned that all these things were also empty and futile, like chasing the wind;)
Ecclesiastes 2:26God gave wisdom, and knowing, and gladness to a good man in his sight; but he gave torment, and superfluous busyness to a sinner, that he increase, and gather together, and give to him that pleaseth God; but also this is vanity, and vain busyness of soul. (God gave wisdom, and knowledge, and happiness to those who be good before him; but he gave torment, and superfluous busyness to the sinner, so that first he increase, and gather together, but then he must give it all to him who pleaseth God; but this is also empty and futile, like chasing the 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 →