Ecclesiastes 8:16

God's Word

When I carefully considered how to study wisdom and how to look at the work that is done on earth (even going without sleep day and night),

Cross References

Genesis 31:40

The scorching heat during the day and the cold at night wore me down, and I lost a lot of sleep.

Psalm 127:2

It is useless to work hard for the food you eat by getting up early and going to bed late. The Lord gives ⌞food⌟ to those he loves while they sleep.

Ecclesiastes 1:13

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.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen everything that is done under the sun. Look at it! It’s all pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

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 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 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 5:12

The sleep of working people is sweet, whether they eat a little or a lot. But the full stomachs that rich people have will not allow them to sleep.

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 8:7

They don’t know what the future will bring. So who can tell them how things will turn out?

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.