Ecclesiastes 1:13 nasb — And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task w…

NASB

"And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with."

— Ecclesiastes 1:13, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 1:13 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 1 — Context

10

Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is new"? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us.

11

There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still.

12

I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13

And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

14

I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.

15

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

16

I said to myself, "Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge."

Ecclesiastes 1:13 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 1:13 say?
Ecclesiastes 1:13 in the NASB reads: “And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 1:13 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 1:13 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 1, verse 13.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 1:13.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 1:13 in?
Ecclesiastes 1:13 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 1:13?
Ecclesiastes 1:13 reads (NASB): “And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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