Ecclesiastes 1:12–15
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Wisdom Is Meaningless
12I, the Teacher,l was king over Israel in Jerusalem.m 13I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens.n What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!o 14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.p
15What is crooked cannot be straightened;q
what is lacking cannot be counted.
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Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.
In other versions
ESVEnglish Standard Version
I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles
CSBChristian Standard Bible
I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 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.
What is crooked cannot be straightened;
what is lacking cannot be counted.
Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
NLTNew Living Translation
I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. 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.
What is wrong cannot be made right.
What is missing cannot be recovered.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
LEBThe Lexham English Bible
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 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.
What is twisted cannot be straightened,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Copyright 2012 Lexham Press
KJV 1900King James Version
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 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. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
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