the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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World English Bible
Ecclesiastes 8:16
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When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the endeavor which has been done on the earth (even though one never sees sleep with his eyes day or night),
When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),
And so I applied my minde to learne wysdome, and to knowe the trauayle that is in the worlde, and that of suche a fashion, that I suffred not mine eyes to sleepe neither day nor night.
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),
When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night,
When I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth; for even by day and by night he does not see sleep in his eyes.
I carefully studied the things people do in this life. I saw how busy people are. They work day and night, and they almost never sleep.
When I applied mine heart to know wisedome, and to see the busines that is done vpon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleepe with his eyes.)
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:)
When I applied my mynde to lerne wy?dome, and to knowe the trauayle that is in the worlde (and that of soch a fashion, yt I suffred not myne eyes to slepe nether daye ner night)
When I determined to load up on wisdom and examine everything taking place on earth, I realized that if you keep your eyes open day and night without even blinking, you'll still never figure out the meaning of what God is doing on this earth. Search as hard as you like, you're not going to make sense of it. No matter how smart you are, you won't get to the bottom of it.
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—
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),
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),
When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth (for there is also one that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes),
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:)
When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth— even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night—
Day and night I went without sleep, trying to understand what goes on in this world.
When I applied myself to gain wisdom and to observe how people occupy themselves on earth, that people's eyes don't see sleep either by day or by night,
When I applied mine heart to knowe wisedome, and to behold the busines that is done on earth, that neither day nor night the eyes of man take sleepe,
Therefore I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business which is done upon the earth; for there are those whose eyes see no sleep either day or night.
When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the eretz (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes),
When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth--for neither day nor night do men see sleep with their eyes--
In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people's burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night.
I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the work which has been done on the earth, not sleeping day or night.
Whereupon I set my heart to know wisdom, and to perceive the trouble that was wrought upon the earth: for there is that neither by day nor night sees sleep with his eyes.
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:)
When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth-though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night-
When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how one's eyes see sleep neither day nor night,
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.
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to understand the distraction that is upon earth: for there are some that day and night take no sleep with their eyes.
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.
When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep,
When I devoted my mind to know wisdom and to see the business which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),
I tried to understand all that happens on earth. I saw how busy people are, working day and night and hardly ever sleeping.
Whenever I tried to become wise and learn what goes on in the world, I realized that you could stay awake night and day
When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one's eyes do not close in sleep day or night),
And Y settide myn herte to knowe wisdom, and to vndurstonde the departing, which is turned in erthe. A man is, that bi daies and niytis takith not sleep with iyen.
When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night one's eyes see sleep;
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),
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
When I: Solomon here records the result of his perplexing inquiries into the affairs of men, and the purposes, providence, and works of God. And when he examined with great attention and diligence into the works of God, he found he could neither comprehend nor explain them; and was persuaded, that no application or capacity would enable a man to fathom the depth of the Divine dispensations in this lower world. How vain, then, are all cavils against Divine providence; when we can neither understand, nor comprehend it! Ecclesiastes 8:9, Ecclesiastes 8:7, Ecclesiastes 7:25
there is that: Ecclesiastes 2:23, Ecclesiastes 4:8, Ecclesiastes 5:12, Genesis 31:40, Psalms 127:2
Reciprocal: Job 28:13 - knoweth Psalms 121:4 - shall Proverbs 2:2 - apply Proverbs 22:17 - apply Ecclesiastes 1:13 - I gave Ecclesiastes 9:1 - considered in my heart Ecclesiastes 9:13 - General Luke 6:30 - Give
Cross-References
Yahweh said to Noah, "Come with all of your household into the ark, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation.
Noah went into the ark with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, because of the waters of the flood.
In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ark;
"Go forth from the ark, you, and your wife, and your sons, and your sons' wives with you.
Noah went forth, with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives with him.
The priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Jordan.
For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hurried and passed over.
For he will give his angels charge over you, To guard you in all your ways.
Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, From this time forth, and forevermore.
As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
When I applied mine heart to know wisdom,.... The nature and causes of things; the wisdom of God in his providence, and the grounds and reasons of his various dispensations towards the children of men: the Targum interprets it, the wisdom of the law;
and to see the business that is done upon the earth; either the business of Providence, in dealing so unequally with the righteous and the wicked, before observed; and which is a business very afflictive and distressing for curious persons to look into, not being able to account for it: or the labour and toil of men to get wealth and riches, and to find happiness in them;
(for also [there is that] neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes); or has any sleep in his eyes, through his eager pursuit after worldly things, or, however, has but little; he rises early and sits up late at his business, so close and diligent is he at it, so industrious to obtain riches, imagining a happiness in them there is not: or else this describes persons curious and inquisitive into the affairs of Providence, and the reasons of them; who give themselves no rest, day nor night, being so intent upon their studies of this kind; and perhaps the wise man may design himself.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
These verses supplement Ecclesiastes 8:15 with the reflection that the man who goes beyond that limited sphere within which he can labor and be contented, and investigates the whole work of God, will find that his finite intelligence cannot grasp it.
Ecclesiastes 8:16
Business - Or, âtravailâ Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 3:10. The sleeplessness noted probably refers to the writer himself.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. When I applied mine heart to know wisdom — This is the reply of the wise man: "I have also considered these seeming contradictions. God governs the world; but we cannot see the reasons of his conduct, nor know why he does this, omits that, or permits a third thing. We may study night and day, and deprive ourselves of rest and sleep, but we shall never fathom the depths that are in the Divine government; but all is right and just. This is the state of probation; and in it neither can the wicked be punished, nor the righteous rewarded. But eternity is at hand; and then shall every man receive according to his works. He that spends his life in the eat, drink, and play, will find in that day that he has lost the time in which he could have prepared for eternity.
