23 All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me. 24 What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it? 25 I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.
Ecclesiastes 7:23–25
Semantically similar passages
Ecclesiastes 1:16–18
16 I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is… 18 …
Ecclesiastes 8:16–17
16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night— 17 I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun.…
Ecclesiastes 1:12–14
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and h…
Ecclesiastes 2:11–13
11 Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun. 12 Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; f…
Ecclesiastes 2:2–4
2 I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” 3 I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of…
Psalms 139:5–7
5 You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?
Proverbs 30:17–19
17 As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it. 18 There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand: 19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a…
Sirach 1:2–4
2 Who can count the sand of the seas, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity? (WEB) 3 Who will search out the height of the sky, the breadth of the earth, the deep, and wisdom? (WEB) 4 Wisdom has been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlas… (WEB)
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