Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, August 23rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible
The Darby Translation
Ecclesiastes 7:23
All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
All this I have put to the test of wisdom; I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but wisdom remained far away from me.
All this I have put to the test of wisdom; I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but wisdom remained far away 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 have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out? 25 I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness; 26 and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her. 27 See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason; 28 which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found. 29 Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
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
And Jehovah said to Noah, Go into the ark, thou and all thy house; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
And Jehovah said to Noah, Go into the ark, thou and all thy house; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Genesis 7:8
Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowl, and of everything that creeps on the ground,
Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowl, and of everything that creeps on the ground,
Genesis 7:9
there came two and two unto Noah into the ark, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
there came two and two unto Noah into the ark, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
Genesis 7:10
And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth.
And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth.
Genesis 7:14
they, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and all fowl after its kind—every bird of every wing.
they, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and all fowl after its kind—every bird of every wing.
Genesis 7:15
And they went to Noah, into the ark, two and two of all flesh, in which was the breath of life.
And they went to Noah, into the ark, two and two of all flesh, in which was the breath of life.
Genesis 7:17
And the flood was forty days on the earth. And the waters increased, and bore up the ark; and it was lifted up above the earth.
And the flood was forty days on the earth. And the waters increased, and bore up the ark; and it was lifted up above the earth.
Genesis 7:18
And the waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark went on the face of the waters.
And the waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark went on the face of the waters.
Genesis 7:20
Fifteen cubits upward the waters prevailed; and the mountains were covered.
Fifteen cubits upward the waters prevailed; and the mountains were covered.
Genesis 7:21
And all flesh that moved on the earth expired, fowl as well as cattle, and beasts, and all crawling things which crawl on the earth, and all mankind:
And all flesh that moved on the earth expired, fowl as well as cattle, and beasts, and all crawling things which crawl on the earth, and all mankind:
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.
