Bible verse

Ecclesiastes 7:23

All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.

Ecclesiastes 7:23 · BSB

Ecclesiastes 7:23 in context

The verses around it, from Ecclesiastes 7.

19 Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

20 Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

21 Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

22 For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23 All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.

24 What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

25 I 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.

26 And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

27 “Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 7:23 in other translations

KJV

All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.

ASV

All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

ERV

All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

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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.