Ecclesiastes 1:13

New Century Version

I decided to use my wisdom to learn about everything that happens on earth. I learned that God has given us terrible things to face.

Cross References

Genesis 3:19

You will sweat and work hard for your food. Later you will return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and when you die, you will return to the dust.”

Job 28:3

Miners bring lights and search deep into the mines for ore in thick darkness.

Psalm 111:2

The Lord does great things; those who enjoy them seek them.

Proverbs 18:1

Unfriendly people are selfish and hate all good sense.

Proverbs 18:15

The mind of a person with understanding gets knowledge; the wise person listens to learn more.

Proverbs 23:26

My son, pay attention to me, and watch closely what I do.

Proverbs 25:2

God is honored for what he keeps secret. Kings are honored for what they can discover.

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

So I decided to find out about wisdom and knowledge and also about foolish thinking, but this turned out to be like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

You don’t know where the wind will blow, and you don’t know how a baby grows inside the mother. In the same way, you don’t know what God is doing, or how he created everything.

Ecclesiastes 12:12

So be careful, my son, about other teachings. People are always writing books, and too much study will make you tired.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

All of their lives their work is full of pain and sorrow, and even at night their minds don’t rest. This is also useless.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

If people please God, God will give them wisdom, knowledge, and joy. But sinners will get only the work of gathering and storing wealth that they will have to give to the ones who please God. So all their work is useless, like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I saw the hard work God has given people to do.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

I realized the reason people work hard and try to succeed: They are jealous of each other. This, too, is useless, like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

I saw a man who had no family, no son or brother. He always worked hard but was never satisfied with what he had. He never asked himself, “For whom am I working so hard? Why don’t I let myself enjoy life?” This also is very sad and useless.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I studied and tried very hard to find wisdom, to find some meaning for everything. I learned that it is foolish to be evil, and it is crazy to act like a fool.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

I saw all of this as I considered all that is done here on earth. Sometimes people harm those they control.

1 Timothy 4:15

Continue to do those things; give your life to doing them so your progress may be seen by everyone.