Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),

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:)

Holman Bible

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one’s eyes do not close in sleep day or night),

International Standard Version

When I dedicated myself to experience wisdom and to observe what is undertaken on earth even going without sleep day and night

A Conservative Version

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

American Standard Version

When I applied my 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),

Amplified

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to see the activities [of mankind] that take place upon the earth—how some men seem to sleep neither day nor night—

Bible in Basic English

When I gave my mind to the knowledge of wisdom and to seeing the business which is done on the earth (and there are those whose eyes see not sleep by day or by night),

Darby Translation

When I applied my 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),

Julia Smith Translation

According as I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to see the labor that was done upon the earth: for also in the day and in the night he saw not sleep with his eyes.

King James 2000

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

Lexham Expanded Bible

I applied my mind to know wisdom and to understand the business that is done on earth--how neither day nor night one's eyes see sleep.

Modern King James verseion

When I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth; for neither day nor night do men see sleep with their eyes.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

And so I applied my mind to learn wisdom, and to know the travail that is in the world; and that of such a fashion that I suffered not my eyes to sleep neither day nor night.

NET Bible

When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth -- even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night --

New Heart English Bible

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

The Emphasized Bible

When I gave my heart, to know wisdom, and to consider the business that was done upon the earth, then surely, by day and by night, there was one who suffered not his eyes, to sleep.

Webster

When I applied my 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:)

World English Bible

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

Youngs Literal Translation

When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that hath been done on the earth, (for there is also a spectator in whose eyes sleep is not by day and by night),

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
נתן 
Nathan 
Usage: 2011

חכמה 
Chokmah 
Usage: 149

and to see
ראה 
Ra'ah 
Usage: 1308

the business
ענין 
`inyan 
Usage: 8

upon the earth
ארץ 
'erets 
Usage: 2504

יום 
Yowm 
Usage: 2293

לילה ליל ליל 
Layil 
Usage: 233

ראה 
Ra'ah 
Usage: 1308

שׁנא שׁנה 
Shehah 
Usage: 23

Verse Info

Context Readings

Man Cannot Know God's Ways

15 So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. 16 When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), 17 and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.



Cross References

Psalm 127:2

It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

Ecclesiastes 1:13

And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.

Genesis 31:40

Thus I was: by day the heat consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.

Ecclesiastes 5:12

The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness.

Ecclesiastes 8:7

If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?

Ecclesiastes 8:9

All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain