¹³And I ^papplied my heart⁶ to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy ^qbusiness that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. ¹⁴I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is ^rvanity⁷ and a striving after wind.⁸

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Footnotes

6The Hebrew term denotes the center of one’s inner life, including mind, will, and emotions
7The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on )
8Or a feeding on wind; compare Hosea 12:1 (also in Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9)

Cross references

pver. 17; [1 Kgs. 4:33]
qch. 2:23, 26; 3:10; [Gen. 3:19]
rver. 2; ch. 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4; 6:9

In other versions

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I applied my mind to examine and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

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

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. It is a grievous task God has given to humans to be busy with. I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything is vanity and chasing wind.

KJV 1900King James Version

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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