Ecclesiastes 1:17 - Revised Version with Apocrypha 1895

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

And I gave my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I perceived that this also is a searching after wind and a feeding on it. [I Thess. 5:21.]

American Standard Version (1901)

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

Common English Bible

But when I set my mind to understand wisdom, and also to understand madness and folly, I realized that this too was just wind chasing.

Catholic Public Domain Version

And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

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,

Ecclesiastes 1:17 Cross References

Psalm 73:16

When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;

Ecclesiastes 12:8

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:17

So I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me: for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:3

I searched in mine heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, mine heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

Ecclesiastes 3:19

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:6

Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 8:16

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:)

Ecclesiastes 9:3

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

prove all things; hold fast that which is good;