Ecclesiastes 1:13

God's Word

With all my heart I used wisdom to study and explore everything done under heaven. Mortals are weighed down with a terrible burden that God has placed on them.

Cross References

Genesis 3:19

By the sweat of your brow, you will produce food to eat until you return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and you will return to dust.”

Job 28:3

⌞Humans⌟ bring an end to darkness ⌞there⌟ and search to the limit of the gloomy, pitch-black rock.

Psalm 111:2

The Lord’s deeds are spectacular. They should be studied by all who enjoy them.

Proverbs 18:1

A loner is out to get what he wants for himself. He opposes all sound reasoning.

Proverbs 18:15

The mind of a person who has understanding acquires knowledge. The ears of wise people seek knowledge.

Proverbs 23:26

My son, give me your heart. Let your eyes find happiness in my ways.

Proverbs 25:2

It is the glory of God to hide things but the glory of kings to investigate them.

Proverbs 4:7

The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding with all that you have.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

I’ve used my mind to understand wisdom and knowledge as well as madness and stupidity. ⌞Now⌟ I know that this is ⌞like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Just as you don’t know how the breath of life enters the limbs of a child within its mother’s womb, you also don’t understand how God, who made everything, works.

Ecclesiastes 12:12

Be warned, my children, against anything more than these. People never stop writing books. Too much studying will wear out your body.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

Their entire life is filled with pain, and their work is unbearable. Even at night their minds don’t rest. Even this is pointless.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to anyone who pleases him. But to the person who continues to sin, he gives the job of gathering and collecting ⌞wealth⌟. The sinner must turn his wealth over to the person who pleases God. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I have seen mortals weighed down with a burden that God has placed on them.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

It is beautiful how God has done everything at the right time. He has put a sense of eternity in people’s minds. Yet, mortals still can’t grasp what God is doing from the beginning to the end ⌞of time⌟.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There are people who are all alone. They have no children or other family members. So there is no end to all the hard work they have to do. Their eyes are never satisfied with riches. But ⌞they never ask themselves⌟ why they are working so hard and depriving themselves of good things. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I turned my attention to study, to explore, and to seek out wisdom and the reason for things. I learned that wickedness is stupid and foolishness is madness.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

I have seen all of this, and I have carefully considered all that is done under the sun whenever one person has authority to hurt others.

1 Timothy 4:15

Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.