Ecclesiastes 8:16

New Living Translation

In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night.

Cross References

Genesis 31:40

“I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights.

Psalm 127:2

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Ecclesiastes 1:13

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.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

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 2:23

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

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 5:12

People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.

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 8:7

Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen?

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.