Ecclesiastes 7:23 nasb — I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.

NASB

"I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me."

— Ecclesiastes 7:23, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 7:23 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 7 — Context

20

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

21

Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you.

22

For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.

23

I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.

24

What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it?

25

I directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness.

26

And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

Ecclesiastes 7:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 7:23 say?
Ecclesiastes 7:23 in the NASB reads: “I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 7:23 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 7:23 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 7, verse 23.
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 7:23.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 7:23 in?
Ecclesiastes 7:23 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 7:23?
Ecclesiastes 7:23 reads (NASB): “I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.” 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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