NET Bible
"What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied."
— Ecclesiastes 1:15, NET Bible
“That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.”
“That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. ”
“That which is crooked can't be made straight; and that which is lacking can't be counted.”
“The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.”
“That which is bent may not be made straight, and that which is not there may not be numbered.”
“That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.”
Futility of Secular Accomplishment I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.
I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!
What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.
Futility of Secular Wisdom I thought to myself,“I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”
So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!
For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.