Ecclesiastes 8:16

New Century Version

I tried to understand all that happens on earth. I saw how busy people are, working day and night and hardly ever sleeping.

Cross References

Genesis 31:40

In the daytime the sun took away my strength, and at night I was cold and could not sleep.

Psalm 127:2

It is no use for you to get up early and stay up late, working for a living. The Lord gives sleep to those he loves.

Ecclesiastes 1:13

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.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I looked at everything done on earth and saw that it is all useless, like chasing the wind.

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 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 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 5:12

Those who work hard sleep in peace; it is not important if they eat little or much. But rich people worry about their wealth and cannot sleep.

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 8:7

They do not know what the future holds, and no one can tell them what will happen.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

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