Ecclesiastes 8:16 nasb — When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never…

NASB

"When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),"

— Ecclesiastes 8:16, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 8:16 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 8 — Context

13

But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.

14

There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility.

15

So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

16

When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),

17

and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, "I know," he cannot discover.

Ecclesiastes 8:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 8:16 say?
Ecclesiastes 8:16 in the NASB reads: “When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),”
Where is Ecclesiastes 8:16 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 8:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 8, 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 8:16.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 8:16 in?
Ecclesiastes 8:16 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 8:16?
Ecclesiastes 8:16 reads (NASB): “When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),” 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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