Bible verse

Ecclesiastes 1:17

So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 · BSB

Ecclesiastes 1:17 in context

The verses around it, from Ecclesiastes 1.

13 And 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!

14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

15 What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

16 I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”

17 So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.

18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1:17 in other translations

KJV

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

ASV

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

ERV

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

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Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible, which is free of copyright restrictions for use on websites. Read the full Bible on Great Faith.