Parallel Verses

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.

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

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I have seen the task that God has given with which the sons of men are occupied.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I know that this also is a striving after wind.

Genesis 3:19

You will eat your food by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground. You came from the ground. For dust you are and to dust you will return.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom. I looked for the explanation, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.

Psalm 111:2

Jehovah's deeds are spectacular. They are studied by all who enjoy them.

Proverbs 2:2-4

Pay close attention to wisdom, and let your [mind and] heart (inner being) reach for discernment.

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the most important thing. So gain wisdom! And by all means arrive at understanding.

Proverbs 18:1

A man of solitude (who keeps to himself) (isolates himself) seeks his own (selfish) desire. He objects to sound wisdom.

Proverbs 18:15

The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge. The ear of the wise one searches for knowledge.

Proverbs 23:26

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

Ecclesiastes 2:23

All his days are sorrow, and his work is full of grief. Even in the night his heart has no rest. This again is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

To the man who is good, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy. But to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

I have learned why people work so hard to succeed. It is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is vanity! It is like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

I have seen all this and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time when one man rules over another to his own misery and harm.

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

By these, my son, be admonished! There is no end to publishing many books. Also much study is a weariness of the flesh.

1 Timothy 4:15

Be diligent and think about these things. Give yourself wholly to them. That way your progress may be apparent 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