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Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Complete Jewish Bible
Ecclesiastes 7:23
All this I have put to the test of wisdom; I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but wisdom remained far away from me.
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Christian Standard Bible®
I have tested all this by wisdom. I resolved, “I will be wise,” but it was beyond me.
I have tested all this by wisdom. I resolved, “I will be wise,” but it was beyond me.
Hebrew Names Version
All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
King James Version
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
English Standard Version
All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
New American Standard Bible
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but wisdom was far from me.
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but wisdom was far from me.
New Century Version
I used wisdom to test all these things. I wanted to be wise, but it was too hard for me.
I used wisdom to test all these things. I wanted to be wise, but it was too hard for me.
Amplified Bible
I have tested all this with wisdom. I said, "I will be wise [independently of God]," but true wisdom was far from me.
I have tested all this with wisdom. I said, "I will be wise [independently of God]," but true wisdom was far from me.
World English Bible
All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
Geneva Bible (1587)
All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I thought I will be wise, but it went farre from me.
All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I thought I will be wise, but it went farre from me.
Legacy Standard Bible
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
Berean Standard Bible
All this I tested by wisdom, saying, "I resolve to be wise." But it was beyond me.
All this I tested by wisdom, saying, "I resolve to be wise." But it was beyond me.
Contemporary English Version
I told myself that I would be smart and try to understand all of this, but it was too much for me.
I told myself that I would be smart and try to understand all of this, but it was too much for me.
Darby Translation
All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Easy-to-Read Version
I used my wisdom and thought about all these things. I wanted to be wise, but I couldn't do it.
I used my wisdom and thought about all these things. I wanted to be wise, but I couldn't do it.
George Lamsa Translation
I have tried all these things by wisdom; I said, I will be wise; but wisdom was far from me.
I have tried all these things by wisdom; I said, I will be wise; but wisdom was far from me.
Good News Translation
I used my wisdom to test all of this. I was determined to be wise, but it was beyond me.
I used my wisdom to test all of this. I was determined to be wise, but it was beyond me.
Lexham English Bible
All this I have tested with wisdom. I said, "I will be wise!" but it was beyond my grasp.
All this I have tested with wisdom. I said, "I will be wise!" but it was beyond my grasp.
Literal Translation
All this I have tested by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this I have tested by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
All these thinges haue I proued because of wy?dome: for I thought to be wyse, but she wente farther fro me
All these thinges haue I proued because of wy?dome: for I thought to be wyse, but she wente farther fro me
American Standard Version
All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Bible in Basic English
All this I have put to the test by wisdom; I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.
All this I have put to the test by wisdom; I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: 'I will get wisdom'; but it was far from me.
All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: 'I will get wisdom'; but it was far from me.
King James Version (1611)
All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I said, I will be wise, but it was farre from me.
All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I said, I will be wise, but it was farre from me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
All these thinges haue I proued in wysdome, for I thought to be wyse, but she went farther fro me then she was before:
All these thinges haue I proued in wysdome, for I thought to be wyse, but she went farther fro me then she was before:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others.
For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others.
English Revised Version
All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
I asayede alle thingis in wisdom; Y seide, I schal be maad wijs, and it yede awei ferthere fro me, myche more than it was;
I asayede alle thingis in wisdom; Y seide, I schal be maad wijs, and it yede awei ferthere fro me, myche more than it was;
Update Bible Version
All this I have proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this I have proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Webster's Bible Translation
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.
New English Translation
I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this"—but it was beyond my grasp.
I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this"—but it was beyond my grasp.
New King James Version
All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise"; But it was far from me.
All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise"; But it was far from me.
New Living Translation
I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, "I am determined to be wise." But it didn't work.
I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, "I am determined to be wise." But it didn't work.
New Life Bible
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
New Revised Standard
All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
All this, have I proved by wisdom, - I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.
All this, have I proved by wisdom, - I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(7-24) I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
(7-24) I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
Revised Standard Version
All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise"; but it was far from me.
All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise"; but it was far from me.
Young's Literal Translation
All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, `I am wise,' and it [is] far from me.
All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, `I am wise,' and it [is] far from me.
THE MESSAGE
I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep—oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? I concentrated with all my might, studying and exploring and seeking wisdom—the meaning of life. I also wanted to identify evil and stupidity, foolishness and craziness.
I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep—oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? I concentrated with all my might, studying and exploring and seeking wisdom—the meaning of life. I also wanted to identify evil and stupidity, foolishness and craziness.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
Contextual Overview
23 All this I have put to the test of wisdom; I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but wisdom remained far away from me. 24 That which exists is far away and deep, so deep, that it can't be discovered. 25 So I turned myself and my thoughts to know, search out and seek wisdom and the reasons behind things, also to know how foolish it is to be wicked and how stupid to act like a fool. 26 I found more bitter than death the woman who is a trap, whose heart is a snare and whose hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be caught by her. 27 I have found this — says Kohelet — adding one thing to another to reach a conclusion, 28 I searched a long time without finding it: one man in a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found. 29 This is the only thing I have found, that God made human beings upright, but they have devised many schemes.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I said: Genesis 3:5, 1 Kings 3:11, 1 Kings 3:12, 1 Kings 11:1-8, Romans 1:22, 1 Corinthians 1:20
Reciprocal: Job 28:12 - General Job 28:20 - General Ecclesiastes 1:17 - I gave Ecclesiastes 7:28 - yet Ecclesiastes 8:17 - that a man
Cross-References
Genesis 7:1
(ii) Adonai said to Noach, "Come into the ark, you and all your household; for I have seen that you alone in this generation are righteous before me.
(ii) Adonai said to Noach, "Come into the ark, you and all your household; for I have seen that you alone in this generation are righteous before me.
Genesis 7:8
Of clean animals, of animals that are not clean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground,
Of clean animals, of animals that are not clean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground,
Genesis 7:9
couples, male and female, went in to Noach in the ark, as God had ordered Noach.
couples, male and female, went in to Noach in the ark, as God had ordered Noach.
Genesis 7:10
After seven days the water flooded the earth.
After seven days the water flooded the earth.
Genesis 7:14
they, and every animal of every species, all the livestock of every species, every animal that creeps on the ground of every species, and every bird of every species — all sorts of winged creatures.
they, and every animal of every species, all the livestock of every species, every animal that creeps on the ground of every species, and every bird of every species — all sorts of winged creatures.
Genesis 7:15
They went in to Noach in the ark, couples from every kind of living thing that breathes.
They went in to Noach in the ark, couples from every kind of living thing that breathes.
Genesis 7:17
(iii) The flood was forty days on the earth; the water grew higher and floated the ark, so that it was lifted up off the earth.
(iii) The flood was forty days on the earth; the water grew higher and floated the ark, so that it was lifted up off the earth.
Genesis 7:18
The water overflowed the earth and grew deeper, until the ark floated on the surface of the water.
The water overflowed the earth and grew deeper, until the ark floated on the surface of the water.
Genesis 7:20
the water covered the mountains by more than twenty-two-and-a-half feet.
the water covered the mountains by more than twenty-two-and-a-half feet.
Genesis 7:21
All living beings that moved on the earth perished — birds, livestock, other animals, insects, and every human being,
All living beings that moved on the earth perished — birds, livestock, other animals, insects, and every human being,
Gill's Notes on the Bible
All this have I proved by wisdom,.... Referring either to all that he had been discoursing of hitherto in this book, concerning the vanity of natural wisdom and knowledge, of pleasure, power, and riches; or to the several useful instructions given in this chapter, particularly concerning patiently bearing everything from the hands of God or men, Ecclesiastes 7:8. This, by the help and use of that wisdom which God had given him, he had made trial of, and found it to be right, and therefore recommended it to others; though he acknowledges that, with all his wisdom, he was from perfection;
I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me; he determined, if possible, to attain to the perfection of wisdom, and made use of all means to come at it; that he might know all the works of God in creation, the nature, use, and excellency of them; in providence, his different dispensations towards the sons of men, and the causes of them; and in grace, the redemption and salvation of men, and the mysteries thereof; but the more he knew, the more he was convinced of his own ignorance, and seemed further off from the summit of knowledge than he was before; and plainly saw, that perfection in wisdom is not attainable in this life. The Targum restrains this to the wisdom of the law; but it is better to understand it in a more general sense.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
I will be - Or, I am. There was a time when Solomon thought himself wise enough to comprehend the work of God, and therefore needed for himself the self-humbling conviction declared in this verse.
It - i. e. Wisdom. Compare Ecclesiastes 8:17.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. All this have I proved by wisdom — These rules I have laid down for my own conduct, and sought after more wisdom; but have fallen far short of what I wished to be.
