קהלת 7:25

Hebrew Modern Translation

סבותי אני ולבי לדעת ולתור ובקש חכמה וחשבון ולדעת רשע כסל והסכלות הוללות׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Aleppo Codex
סבותי אני ולבי לדעת ולתור ובקש חכמה וחשבון ולדעת רשע כסל והסכלות הוללות

Biblia Hebrica Stuttgartensia (1967/77)
סַבֹּ֨ותִֽי אֲנִ֤י וְלִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת וְלָת֔וּר וּבַקֵּ֥שׁ חָכְמָ֖ה וְחֶשְׁבֹּ֑ון וְלָדַ֙עַת֙ רֶ֣שַׁע כֶּ֔סֶל וְהַסִּכְל֖וּת הוֹלֵלֹֽות ׃

Westminster Leningrad Codex
סַבּוֹתִֽי אֲנִי וְלִבִּי לָדַעַת וְלָתוּר וּבַקֵּשׁ חָכְמָה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן וְלָדַעַת רֶשַׁע כֶּסֶל וְהַסִּכְלוּת הוֹלֵלֹֽות ׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I applied mine heart: Heb. I and my heart compassed, Ecclesiastes 1:13-17, Ecclesiastes 2:1-3, Ecclesiastes 2:12, Ecclesiastes 2:20

the reason: Ecclesiastes 7:27, *marg. Ecclesiastes 2:15, Ecclesiastes 3:16, Ecclesiastes 3:17, Ecclesiastes 9:1, Ecclesiastes 9:2, Jeremiah 12:1, Jeremiah 12:2, 2 Peter 2:3-9, 2 Peter 3:3-9

know: Ecclesiastes 9:3, Ecclesiastes 10:13, Genesis 34:7, Joshua 7:13, 2 Samuel 13:12, Proverbs 17:12, Proverbs 26:11

Reciprocal: Proverbs 2:2 - apply Proverbs 6:32 - lacketh Proverbs 22:17 - apply Ecclesiastes 8:9 - this Ecclesiastes 8:16 - When I Mark 7:22 - foolishness 2 Peter 2:16 - the madness

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom,.... Or, "I and my heart turned about" h; took a circuit, a tour throughout the whole compass of things; looked into every corner, and went through the circle of knowledge, in order to search and find out what true wisdom is; which is no other than Christ, and a spiritual knowledge of him; a variety of words is used to express his eager desire after wisdom, and the diligent search he made, from which he was not discouraged by the difficulties he met with; see Ecclesiastes 1:13;

and the reason [of things]; either in nature or providence: or the estimation i of them; the excellency of them, how much they are to be accounted of, esteemed, and valued; as Christ, the Wisdom of God, and all things relating to him, should;

and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness; the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the folly and madness that are in it; sin is the effect of folly, and the excess of it, and a spiritual madness; it is true of all sin in general, but especially of the sin of uncleanness, which Solomon seems to have in view by what follows; see Ecclesiastes 1:17; and may chiefly intend the wickedness of his own folly, and the foolishness of his own madness.

h סבותי אני ולבי "circuivi ego et cor meum", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus. i חשבון "estimationem rerum", Mercerus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Reason - The same word is translated “account” Ecclesiastes 7:27, “invention” Ecclesiastes 7:29, and “device” Ecclesiastes 9:10 : it is derived from a root signifying “to count.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. I applied mine heart — I cast about, סבותי sabbothi, I made a circuit; I circumscribed the ground I was to traverse; and all within my circle I was determined to know, and to investigate, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things. Has man reason and understanding? If so, then this is his work. God as much calls him to use these powers in this way, as to believe on the Lord Jesus that he may be saved; and he that does not, according to the means in his power, is a slothful servant, from whom God may justly take away the misemployed or not used talent, and punish him for his neglect. Every doctrine of God is a subject both for reason and faith to work on.

To know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness. —

"And my own heart, with scrutiny severe,

By far the harder task survey'd; intent

To trace that wisdom which from heaven descends,

Fountain of living waters, and to explore

The source of human folly, whose foul streams

Intoxicate and kill."-C.