Parallel Verses
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),
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 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.
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:)
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 commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. 16 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), 17 then I saw all the work of God, that man can't find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won't find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won't be able to find it.
Cross References
Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil; for he gives sleep to his loved ones.
Ecclesiastes 1:13
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.
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.
Genesis 31:40
This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes.
Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. "For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?" This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable 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 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.
Ecclesiastes 8:7
For he doesn't know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?
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.