Ecclesiastes 1:13

New English Translation

I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

Cross References

Genesis 3:19

By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

Job 28:3

Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for the ore in the deepest darkness.

Psalm 111:2

The Lord’s deeds are great, eagerly awaited by all who desire them.

Proverbs 18:1

One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment.

Proverbs 18:15

The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge.

Proverbs 23:26

Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways;

Proverbs 25:2

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is supreme – so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!

Ecclesiastes 1:17

So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

Ecclesiastes 12:12

Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth – only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile – like chasing the wind!

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.

1 Timothy 4:15

Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.