Lectionary Calendar
Monday, January 27th, 2025
the Third Week after Epiphany
the Third Week after Epiphany
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 7:23
All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise"; But it was far from me.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sEncyclopedias:
- TheDevotionals:
- EveryParallel Translations
English Standard Version
All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
Geneva Bible (1587)
All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I thought I will be wise, but it went farre from me.
All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I thought I will be wise, but it went farre from me.
Christian Standard Bible®
I have tested all this by wisdom. I resolved, “I will be wise,” but it was beyond me.
I have tested all this by wisdom. I resolved, “I will be wise,” but it was beyond me.
Hebrew Names Version
All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
Darby Translation
All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Easy-to-Read Version
I used my wisdom and thought about all these things. I wanted to be wise, but I couldn't do it.
I used my wisdom and thought about all these things. I wanted to be wise, but I couldn't do it.
Amplified Bible
I have tested all this with wisdom. I said, "I will be wise [independently of God]," but true wisdom was far from me.
I have tested all this with wisdom. I said, "I will be wise [independently of God]," but true wisdom was far from me.
American Standard Version
All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Contemporary English Version
I told myself that I would be smart and try to understand all of this, but it was too much for me.
I told myself that I would be smart and try to understand all of this, but it was too much for me.
Complete Jewish Bible
All this I have put to the test of wisdom; I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but wisdom remained far away from me.
All this I have put to the test of wisdom; I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but wisdom remained far away from me.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: 'I will get wisdom'; but it was far from me.
All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: 'I will get wisdom'; but it was far from me.
King James Version (1611)
All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I said, I will be wise, but it was farre from me.
All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I said, I will be wise, but it was farre from me.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others.
For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others.
English Revised Version
All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Berean Standard Bible
All this I tested by wisdom, saying, "I resolve to be wise." But it was beyond me.
All this I tested by wisdom, saying, "I resolve to be wise." But it was beyond me.
Lexham English Bible
All this I have tested with wisdom. I said, "I will be wise!" but it was beyond my grasp.
All this I have tested with wisdom. I said, "I will be wise!" but it was beyond my grasp.
Literal Translation
All this I have tested by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this I have tested by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
New Century Version
I used wisdom to test all these things. I wanted to be wise, but it was too hard for me.
I used wisdom to test all these things. I wanted to be wise, but it was too hard for me.
New English Translation
I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this"—but it was beyond my grasp.
I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this"—but it was beyond my grasp.
New Living Translation
I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, "I am determined to be wise." But it didn't work.
I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, "I am determined to be wise." But it didn't work.
New Life Bible
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
New Revised Standard
All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
All this, have I proved by wisdom, - I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.
All this, have I proved by wisdom, - I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(7-24) I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
(7-24) I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
George Lamsa Translation
I have tried all these things by wisdom; I said, I will be wise; but wisdom was far from me.
I have tried all these things by wisdom; I said, I will be wise; but wisdom was far from me.
Good News Translation
I used my wisdom to test all of this. I was determined to be wise, but it was beyond me.
I used my wisdom to test all of this. I was determined to be wise, but it was beyond me.
New American Standard Bible
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but wisdom was far from me.
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but wisdom was far from me.
King James Version
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
All these thinges haue I proued in wysdome, for I thought to be wyse, but she went farther fro me then she was before:
All these thinges haue I proued in wysdome, for I thought to be wyse, but she went farther fro me then she was before:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
I asayede alle thingis in wisdom; Y seide, I schal be maad wijs, and it yede awei ferthere fro me, myche more than it was;
I asayede alle thingis in wisdom; Y seide, I schal be maad wijs, and it yede awei ferthere fro me, myche more than it was;
Young's Literal Translation
All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, `I am wise,' and it [is] far from me.
All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, `I am wise,' and it [is] far from me.
World English Bible
All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
Revised Standard Version
All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise"; but it was far from me.
All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise"; but it was far from me.
Update Bible Version
All this I have proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this I have proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Webster's Bible Translation
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.
Bible in Basic English
All this I have put to the test by wisdom; I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.
All this I have put to the test by wisdom; I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
All these thinges haue I proued because of wy?dome: for I thought to be wyse, but she wente farther fro me
All these thinges haue I proued because of wy?dome: for I thought to be wyse, but she wente farther fro me
THE MESSAGE
I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep—oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? I concentrated with all my might, studying and exploring and seeking wisdom—the meaning of life. I also wanted to identify evil and stupidity, foolishness and craziness.
I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep—oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? I concentrated with all my might, studying and exploring and seeking wisdom—the meaning of life. I also wanted to identify evil and stupidity, foolishness and craziness.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
Legacy Standard Bible
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
Contextual Overview
23 All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise"; But it was far from me. 24 As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, Who can find it out? 25 I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness. 26 And I find more bitter than death The woman whose heart is snares and nets, Whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, But the sinner shall be trapped by her. 27 "Here is what I have found," says the Preacher, "Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason, 28 Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find: One man among a thousand I have found, But a woman among all these I have not found. 29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I said: Genesis 3:5, 1 Kings 3:11, 1 Kings 3:12, 1 Kings 11:1-8, Romans 1:22, 1 Corinthians 1:20
Reciprocal: Job 28:12 - General Job 28:20 - General Ecclesiastes 1:17 - I gave Ecclesiastes 7:28 - yet Ecclesiastes 8:17 - that a man
Cross-References
Genesis 7:1
Luke 17:26,27">[xr] Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.
Luke 17:26,27">[xr] Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.
Genesis 7:8
Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth,
Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth,
Genesis 7:9
two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
Genesis 7:10
And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth.
And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth.
Genesis 7:14
they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.
they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.
Genesis 7:15
And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life.
And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life.
Genesis 7:17
Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
Genesis 7:18
The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters.
The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters.
Genesis 7:20
The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.
The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.
Genesis 7:21
And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man.
And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
All this have I proved by wisdom,.... Referring either to all that he had been discoursing of hitherto in this book, concerning the vanity of natural wisdom and knowledge, of pleasure, power, and riches; or to the several useful instructions given in this chapter, particularly concerning patiently bearing everything from the hands of God or men, Ecclesiastes 7:8. This, by the help and use of that wisdom which God had given him, he had made trial of, and found it to be right, and therefore recommended it to others; though he acknowledges that, with all his wisdom, he was from perfection;
I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me; he determined, if possible, to attain to the perfection of wisdom, and made use of all means to come at it; that he might know all the works of God in creation, the nature, use, and excellency of them; in providence, his different dispensations towards the sons of men, and the causes of them; and in grace, the redemption and salvation of men, and the mysteries thereof; but the more he knew, the more he was convinced of his own ignorance, and seemed further off from the summit of knowledge than he was before; and plainly saw, that perfection in wisdom is not attainable in this life. The Targum restrains this to the wisdom of the law; but it is better to understand it in a more general sense.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
I will be - Or, I am. There was a time when Solomon thought himself wise enough to comprehend the work of God, and therefore needed for himself the self-humbling conviction declared in this verse.
It - i. e. Wisdom. Compare Ecclesiastes 8:17.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. All this have I proved by wisdom — These rules I have laid down for my own conduct, and sought after more wisdom; but have fallen far short of what I wished to be.
