Parallel Verses
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.
New American Standard Bible
When I
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
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 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),
Themes
Care » Worldly folly of » Drives away sleep
Wisdom » True wisdom, general references to » The search for
Topics
Interlinear
Nathan
Leb
Yada`
Ra'ah
'erets
Yowm
Layil
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 8:16
Verse Info
Context Readings
Man Cannot Know God's Ways
15 Then I praised gladness, because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and to be glad; for that shall go with him of his labor for the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. 16 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. 17 Then I looked at all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun; because though a man labors to seek it out, yet he shall not find it. Yea, further, though a wise one speaks of knowing, yet he shall not be able to find it.
Cross References
Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.
Ecclesiastes 1:13
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.
Ecclesiastes 2:23
For all his days are sorrows, and his labor sadness; yea, his heart does not take rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Genesis 31:40
I was there; in the day the heat consumed me, and the frost by night. And my sleep departed from my eyes.
Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother; yet there is no end to all his labor; and his eyes are not satisfied with riches; and he says, For whom do I labor and take good from my soul? This is also vanity. Yes, it is an evil business.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.
Ecclesiastes 7:25
I set my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness;
Ecclesiastes 8:7
For he does not know what shall be; for who can tell him when it shall be?
Ecclesiastes 8:9
All this I have seen, and I gave my heart to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.