Ecclesiastes 1:13

Qohelet Introduces His Quest

¹² I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a futile grasping and chasing after the wind.

All Things

Great Tribulation

In the World

On Earth

Put on

Sons of Men

Children Of Men

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I set my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I realized that this too is a futile grasping and chasing after the wind.

Genesis 3:19

“By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread
Until you return to the ground,
For from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.”

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I turned around and directed my heart to know, to investigate and to seek [skillful and godly] wisdom and the reason for things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [leading to stupidity and recklessness].

Psalm 111:2

Great are the works of the Lord,
Studied by all those who delight in them.

Proverbs 2:2-4

So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];

Proverbs 4:7

“The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]!
And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].

Proverbs 18:1

He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

Proverbs 18:15

The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.

Proverbs 23:26

My son, give me your heart
And let your eyes delight in my ways,

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days his work is painful and sorrowful; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity (worthless).

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

All this I have seen while applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has exercised power over others to their detriment.

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

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—

Ecclesiastes 12:12

But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body.

1 Timothy 4:15

Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them [completely occupied in your ministry], so that your progress will be evident to all.