Ecclesiastes 1:13

New Living Translation

I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race.

Cross References

Genesis 3:19

By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”

Job 28:3

They know how to shine light in the darkness and explore the farthest regions of the earth as they search in the dark for ore.

Psalm 111:2

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them.

Proverbs 18:1

Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense.

Proverbs 18:15

Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.

Proverbs 23:26

O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.

Proverbs 25:2

It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.

Proverbs 4:7

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

Ecclesiastes 12:12

But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:10

I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other.

1 Timothy 4:15

Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.