Parallel Verses

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.

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.

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.

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 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. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.


Cross References

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

Genesis 3:19

By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

Psalm 111:2

The LORD's works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them.

Proverbs 2:2-4

So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

Proverbs 18:1

An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

Proverbs 18:15

The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Proverbs 23:26

My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, 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, 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 chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

All this have I seen, and applied my mind 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 on the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes),

Ecclesiastes 12:12

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

Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all.

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