Eclesiastes 8:17

Filipino Cebuano Bible

17 Nan natan-aw ko ang tanan nga buhat sa Dios, nga sa tawo dili matukib ang buhat nga nahimo ilalum sa adlaw: tungod kay bisan unsaon sa tawo ang pagsusi niini, apan dili siya makatugkad niini; oo, labut pa, bisan ang tawo nga manggialamon magahunahuna sa pagtugkad niini, apan dili gayud siya makahimo sa pagtugkad niini.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that a man: Ecclesiastes 3:11, Ecclesiastes 7:23, Ecclesiastes 7:24, Ecclesiastes 11:5, Job 5:9, Job 11:7-9, Psalms 40:5, Psalms 73:16, Psalms 104:24, Proverbs 30:3, Proverbs 30:4, Isaiah 40:28, Romans 11:33

Reciprocal: Job 28:13 - knoweth Job 37:7 - that Ecclesiastes 1:13 - I gave Mark 4:27 - and grow

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then I beheld all the work of God,.... Not of creation, but of Providence; took notice of it, contemplated on it, considered it, and weighed it well; viewed the various steps and methods of it, to find out, if possible, at least, some general rule by which it proceeded: but all so various and uncertain,

that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: he can find out that it is done, but not the reason why it is done: the ways of God are in the deep, and not to be traced; they are unsearchable and past finding out; there is a βαθος, a depth of wisdom and knowledge, in them, inscrutable by the wisest of men, Psalms 72:19;

because, though a man labour to seek [it] out, yet he shall not find [it]; Noldius and others render it "although"; not only a man that, in a slight and negligent manner, seeks after the knowledge of the works of divine Providence, and the reasons of them; but even one that is diligent and laborious at it is not able to find them out; they being purposely concealed by the Lord, to answer some ends of his;

yea, further, though a wise [man] think to know [it], yet shall he not be able to find [it]; a man of a great natural capacity, such an one as Solomon himself, though he proposes to himself, and determines within himself to find it out, and sets himself to the work, and uses all the means and methods he can devise, and imagines with himself he shall be able to find out the reasons of the divine procedure, in his dispensations towards the righteous and the wicked; and yet, after all, he is not able to do it. The Targum is,

"what shall be done in the end of days;''

wherefore it is best for a man to be easy and quiet, and enjoy what he has in the best manner he can, and submit to the will of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

These verses supplement Ecclesiastes 8:15 with the reflection that the man who goes beyond that limited sphere within which he can labor and be contented, and investigates the whole work of God, will find that his finite intelligence cannot grasp it.

Ecclesiastes 8:16

Business - Or, “travail” Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 3:10. The sleeplessness noted probably refers to the writer himself.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 8:17. Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun — I saw it to be of such a nature -

1, That a man cannot find it out.

2. That if he labour to find it out, he shall not succeed.

3. That though he be wise - the most instructed among men, and think to find it out, he shall find he is not able. It is beyond the wisdom and power of man. How vain then are all your cavils about Providence. You do not understand it; you cannot comprehend it. Fear God!