Parallel Verses

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

New American Standard Bible

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.

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 and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied.

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.

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.

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] wisdom all [human activity] that has been done under heaven. It is a miserable business and a burdensome task which God has given the sons of men with which to be busy and distressed.

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.

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.

Interlinear

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

to seek
דּרשׁ 
Darash 
Usage: 164

and search out
תּוּר 
Tuwr 
Usage: 23

by wisdom
חכמה 
Chokmah 
Usage: 149

שׁמה שׁמים 
Shamayim 
Usage: 420

ענין 
`inyan 
Usage: 8

אלהים 
'elohiym 
Usage: 2600

נתן 
Nathan 
Usage: 2011

to the sons

Usage: 0

of man
אדם 
'adam 
Usage: 541

to be exercised
ענה 
`anah 
Usage: 83

Context Readings

Qohelet Introduces His Quest

12 I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 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 14 I saw all the works they did under the sun; and behold, all vanity and striving of the spirit

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I saw the labor which God gave to the sons of man to be humbled in it

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I will give my heart to know wisdom, and the knowledge of praise and understanding: I knew this also it is the striving of the spirit

Genesis 3:19

In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat food until thy turning back to the earth; for out of it thou wert taken; for dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou turn back.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I went round about, I and my heart., to know, and to examine, and to search out wisdom and understanding, and to know the injustice of folly, and the folly of wickedness:

Psalm 111:2

Great the works of Jehovah, sought out to all their desires.

Proverbs 2:2-4

To attend to wisdom thou wilt incline thine ear, thy heart to understanding;

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom the beginning; obtain wisdom, and with all thine acquisition, obtain understanding.

Proverbs 18:1

He separating himself will Seek according to desire; he will be irritated with every purpose.

Proverbs 18:15

The heart of him understanding will obtain knowledge and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.

Proverbs 23:26

My son, thou shalt give thy heart to me, and thine eyes shall delight in my way.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days pains, and vexation, his labor; also in the night his heart rested not Also this it is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to a man good before his face, he gave wisdom and knowledge and gladness: and to him sinning, he gave labor, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good one before the face of God. Also this is vanity and the striving of the spirit.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

And I saw all the labor and all the success of the work, for this the jealousy of a man from his neighbor. Also this is vanity and striving of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

All this I saw, and giving my heart to every work which was done under the sun: a time which man had power overman for evil to him.

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

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.

Ecclesiastes 12:12

And besides, from these, my son, beware: of making many books, no end; and much study wearies the flesh.

1 Timothy 4:15

Bestow diligent care upon these things; be in them; that thy progress may be manifest in all things.

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