Ecclesiastes 1:13

Easy To Read Version

I decided to study and to use my wisdom to learn about all the things that are done in this life. I learned that it is a very hard thing that God gave us to do.

Cross References

Genesis 3:19

You will work hard for your food, until your face is covered with sweat. You will work hard until the day you die. And then you will become dust again. I used dust to make you. And when you die you will become dust again.”

Job 28:3

Workers carry lights into the caves.\par They search deep into the caves.\par They look for rocks in the deep darkness.\par

Psalm 111:2

The Lord does wonderful things.\par People want those good things\par that come from God.\par

Proverbs 18:1

Some people like to do things their own way. They get upset when people give them advice.

Proverbs 18:15

The wise person always wants to learn more. That person listens closely for more wisdom.

Proverbs 23:26

My son, listen closely to what I am saying. Let my life be your example.

Proverbs 25:2

God has the right to hide things that he does not want us to know about. But a king is honored for the things he says.

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom begins when you decide to get wisdom. So use everything you own to get wisdom! \{Then you will become wise.\}

Ecclesiastes 1:17

I decided to learn how wisdom and knowledge are better than thinking foolish things. But I learned that trying to become wise is like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [7]}

Ecclesiastes 11:5

You don’t know where the wind blows. And you don’t know how a baby grows in its mother’s body. In the same way, you don’t know what God will do—and he makes everything happen.

Ecclesiastes 12:12

So son, \{study those teachings,\} but be careful about other books. People are always writing books, and too much study will make you very tired.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

All his life he has pain, frustrations, and hard work. Even at night, a person’s mind does not rest. This is also senseless.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

If a person does good and pleases God, then God will give that person wisdom, knowledge, and joy. But a person that sins will get only the work of gathering and carrying things. God takes from the bad person and gives to the good person. But all this work is useless. It is like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [14]}

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I saw all the hard work God gave us to do.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

God gave us the ability to think about his world. {\cf2\super [16]} But we can never completely understand everything God does. And yet, God does everything at just the right time.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I thought, “Why do people work so hard?” I saw people try to succeed and be better than other people. Why? Because people are jealous. They don’t want other people to have more than they have. This is senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [21]}

Ecclesiastes 4:8

A person might not have any family. He might not have a son or even a brother. But that person will continue to work very, very hard. That person is never satisfied with what he has. And he works so hard that he never stops and asks himself, “Why am I working so hard? Why don’t I let myself enjoy my life?” This is also a very bad and senseless thing.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I studied and I tried very hard to find true wisdom. I tried to find a reason for everything. \{What did I learn?\} I learned that it is foolish to be evil, and it is crazy to act like a foolish person.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

I saw all those things. I thought very hard about the things that happen in this world. And I saw that people always struggle for the power to rule other people. And this is bad for them.

1 Timothy 4:15

Continue to do those things. Give your life to doing those things. Then all the people can see that your work is progressing (continuing).