Ecclesiastes 1:17 - Compare All Versions

Ecclesiastes 1:16-17 MSG (The Message)

I said to myself, “I know more and I’m wiser than anyone before me in Jerusalem. I’ve stockpiled wisdom and knowledge.” What I’ve finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless—nothing but spitting into the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 KJV (King James Version)

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 NASB1995 (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 NCV (New Century Version)

So I decided to find out about wisdom and knowledge and also about foolish thinking, but this turned out to be like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 ASV (American Standard Version)

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 NIV (New International Version)

Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 NKJV (New King James Version)

And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 AMP (Amplified Bible)

And I set my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I realized that this too is a futile grasping and chasing after the wind. [1 Thess 5:21]

Ecclesiastes 1:17 NLT (New Living Translation)

So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)

And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.