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Read the Bible
New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 1:17
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- DailyParallel Translations
I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know insanity and foolishness; I realized that this also is striving after wind.
So I decided to find out about wisdom and knowledge and also about foolish thinking, but this turned out to be like chasing the wind.
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.
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
And I gaue mine heart to knowe wisdome and knowledge, madnes and foolishnes: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.
And I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and simpleminded folly; I came to know that this also is striving after wind.
So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.
Then I decided to find out all I could about wisdom and foolishness. Soon I realized that this too was as senseless as chasing the wind.
yet when I applied myself to understanding wisdom and knowledge, as well as stupidity and folly, I came to see that this too was merely feeding on wind.
And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind.
I decided to learn how wisdom and knowledge are better than thinking foolish thoughts. But I learned that trying to become wise is like trying to catch the wind.
And I gave my heart to know wisdom and proverbs and understanding; but I have perceived that this also is vexation of spirit
I was determined to learn the difference between knowledge and foolishness, wisdom and madness. But I found out that I might as well be chasing the wind.
So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and to learn about delusion and folly. However, I discovered that this also is chasing wind.
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness, and folly. I know that this also, it is striving after wind.
for there vnto I applyed my mynde: yt I might knowe what were wy?dome & vnderstodinge, what were error & foolishnes. And I perceaued yt this also was but a vexacion of mynde:
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
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.
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly--I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
And I gaue my heart to know wisedome, and to know madnesse and folly: I perceiued that this also is vexation of spirit.
Yea, my heart had great experience of wisdome & knowledge: for thervnto I applied my mynde, that I myght knowe what were wisdome and vnderstandyng, what were errour and foolishnesse: and I perceaued that this was also but a vexation of mynde.
And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
And Y yaf myn herte, that Y schulde knowe prudence and doctryn, and errours and foli. And Y knew that in these thingis also was trauel and turment of spirit;
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!
So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.
And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know what is crazy and foolish. I saw that this also is like trying to catch the wind.
And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.
yea I have given my heart, to know wisdom, and to know madness, and folly, - I know that, even this, is a feeding on wind.
And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,
And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] vexation of spirit;
And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I gave: Ecclesiastes 1:13, Ecclesiastes 2:3, Ecclesiastes 2:12, Ecclesiastes 7:23-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:21
I perceived: Ecclesiastes 2:10, Ecclesiastes 2:11
Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 1:14 - General Ecclesiastes 5:10 - this Ecclesiastes 6:11 - General Ecclesiastes 9:1 - considered in my heart Ecclesiastes 9:3 - and madness
Cross-References
I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.
"Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,
To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. [fn] A Psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord,How excellent is Your name in all the earth,Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.' " Isaiah 49:6 ">[fn]
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And I gave my heart to know wisdom,.... Which is repeated, for the confirmation of it, from Ecclesiastes 1:13, and that it might be taken notice of how assiduous and diligent he had been in acquiring it; a circumstance not to be overlooked;
and to know madness and folly: that he might the better know wisdom, and learn the difference between the one and the other, since opposites illustrate each other; and that he might shun madness and folly, and the ways thereof, and expose the actions of mad and foolish men: so Plato s says, ignorance is a disease, of which there are two kinds, madness and folly. The Targum, Septuagint, and all the Oriental versions, interpret the last word, translated "folly", by understanding, knowledge, and prudence; which seems to be right, since Solomon speaks of nothing afterwards, as vexation and grief to him, but wisdom and knowledge: and I would therefore read the clause in connection with the preceding, thus, "and the knowledge of things boasted of", vain glorious knowledge; "and prudence", or what may be called craftiness and cunning; or what the apostle calls "science falsely so called", 1 Timothy 6:20; see Proverbs 12:8;
I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit;
Proverbs 12:8- :; the reason follows.
s In Timaeo, p. 1084.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
To know madness and folly - A knowledge of folly would help him to discern wisdom, and to exercise that chief function of practical wisdom - to avoid folly.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. To know madness and folly — הוללות ושכלות holloth vesichluth. Παραβολας και επιστημην, "Parables and science." - Septuagint. So the Syriac; nearly so the Arabic.
"What were error and foolishness." - Coverdale. Perhaps gayety and sobriety may be the better meaning for these two difficult words. I can scarcely think they are taken in that bad sense in which our translation exhibits them. "I tried pleasure in all its forms; and sobriety and self-abnegation to their utmost extent." Choheleth paraphrases, "Even fools and madmen taught me rules."
