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Ecclesiastes 1:17

Ecclesiastes 1:18 net — For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

NET Bible

"For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache."

— Ecclesiastes 1:18, NET Bible

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Ecclesiastes 1:18 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 1 — Context

15

What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.

16

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.”

17

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!

18

For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 1:18 say?
Ecclesiastes 1:18 in the NET Bible reads: “For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 1:18 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 1:18 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 1, verse 18.
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 1:18.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 1:18 in?
Ecclesiastes 1:18 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 1:18?
Ecclesiastes 1:18 reads (NET): “For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.” 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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