Parallel Verses
A Conservative Version
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven. It is a great tribulation that God has given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
New American Standard Bible
And I
King James Version
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.
Holman Bible
I applied my mind to seek
International Standard Version
I dedicated myself to using wisdom for study and discovery of everything that is done under heaven. God uses terrible things so human beings will struggle with life.
American Standard Version
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
Amplified
And I set my mind to seek and explore by [man’s]
Bible in Basic English
And I gave my heart to searching out in wisdom all things which are done under heaven: it is a hard thing which God has put on the sons of men to do.
Darby Translation
And I applied my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this grievous occupation hath God given to the children of men to weary themselves therewith.
Julia Smith Translation
And I gave my heart to seek and to search out in wisdom concerning all which was done under the heavens: this evil business God gave to the sons of man to be occupied in it
King James 2000
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this severe burden has God given to the sons of man to be afflicted with.
Lexham Expanded Bible
I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. It [is] a grievous task God has given to {humans}.
Modern King James verseion
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all which is done under the heavens. It is a sad task God has given to the sons of men to be humbled by it.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
applied my mind to seek out and search for the knowledge of all things that are done under heaven. Such travail and labor hath God given to the children of men, to exercise themselves therein.
NET Bible
I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.
New Heart English Bible
I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
The Emphasized Bible
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,
Webster
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this grievous labor hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised with it.
World English Bible
I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
Youngs Literal Translation
And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It is a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.
Themes
Care » Worldly folly of » Profitless
Science » Observations of, and deductions from, facts
Wisdom » True wisdom, general references to » The search for
Interlinear
Nathan
Leb
Tuwr
Ra`
'elohiym
References
Fausets
Morish
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 1:13
Verse Info
Context Readings
Qohelet Introduces His Quest
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven. It is a great tribulation that God has given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 3:10
I have seen the travail which God has given to the sons of men to be employed therewith.
Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face thou shall eat bread, till thou return to the ground, for out of it thou were taken. For thou are dust, and to dust thou shall return.
Ecclesiastes 7:25
I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
Psalm 111:2
The works of LORD are great, sought out by all those who have pleasure in it.
Proverbs 2:2-4
so as to incline thine ear to wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding,
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom [is] the principal thing. Get wisdom, yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 18:1
He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
Proverbs 18:15
The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 2:23
For all his days are [but] sorrows, and his travail is grief, yea, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:26
For to the man who pleases him [God] gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 8:9
All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun. [There is] a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17
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),
Ecclesiastes 12:12
And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
1 Timothy 4:15
Think on these things--exist within these things--so that thy progress may be visible among all.