Parallel Verses
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.
New American Standard Bible
And I
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
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]
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.
Themes
Care » Worldly folly of » Profitless
Science » Observations of, and deductions from, facts
Wisdom » True wisdom, general references to » The search for
Interlinear
Nathan
Leb
Tuwr
Ra`
'elohiym
References
Fausets
Morish
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 1:13
Verse Info
Context Readings
Qohelet Introduces His Quest
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 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. 14 I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 3:10
I saw the work which God has put on the sons of man.
Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.
Genesis 3:19
With the hard work of your hands you will get your bread till you go back to the earth from which you were taken: for dust you are and to the dust you will go back.
Ecclesiastes 7:25
I gave my mind to knowledge and to searching for wisdom and the reason of things, and to the discovery that sin is foolish, and that to be foolish is to be without one's senses.
Psalm 111:2
The works of the Lord are great, searched out by all those who have delight in them.
Proverbs 2:2-4
So that your ear gives attention to wisdom, and your heart is turned to knowledge;
Proverbs 4:7
The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.
Proverbs 18:1
He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.
Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.
Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes take delight in 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 to no purpose.
Ecclesiastes 2:26
To the man with whom he is pleased, 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 in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:4
And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
Ecclesiastes 8:9
All this have I seen, and have given my heart to all the work which is done under the sun: there is a time when man has power over man for his destruction.
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17
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),
Ecclesiastes 12:12
And further, my son, take note of this: of the making of books there is no end, and much learning is a weariness to the flesh.
1 Timothy 4:15
Have a care for these things; give yourself to them with all your heart, so that all may see how you go forward.