Ecclesiastes 1:16 bbe — I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem--…

Bible in Basic English

"I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem--yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge."

— Ecclesiastes 1:16, Bible in Basic English

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Ecclesiastes 1:16 in Other Translations

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  • KJV

    “I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

Ecclesiastes 1 — Context

13

And I gave my heart to searching out in wisdom all things which are done under heaven: it is a hard thing which God has put on the sons of men to do.

14

I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

15

That which is bent may not be made straight, and that which is not there may not be numbered.

16

I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem--yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.

17

And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.

18

Because in much wisdom is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 1:16 say?
Ecclesiastes 1:16 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem--yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 1:16 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 1:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 1, verse 16.
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 1:16.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 1:16 in?
Ecclesiastes 1:16 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 1:16?
Ecclesiastes 1:16 reads (BBE): “I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem--yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.” 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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