Ecclesiastes 1:17
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.”
A short, plain-language explanation of Ecclesiastes 1:17 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.”
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.”
King James Version · Public Domain“And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this <FI>is<Fi> vexation of spirit;”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Ecclesiastes 1:17 — 14 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 73:16When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
- Ecclesiastes 1:13And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them!
- Ecclesiastes 2:3I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
- Ecclesiastes 2:10Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
- Ecclesiastes 2:11Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 2:12Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?
- Ecclesiastes 3:19For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 6:9Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 7:23All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.
- Ecclesiastes 7:25I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.
- Ecclesiastes 8:16When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—
- Ecclesiastes 12:8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).