Ecclesiastes 7:23-25

Contemporary English Version

²³I told myself that I would be smart and try to understand all this, but it was too much for me. ²⁴The truth is beyond us. It's far too deep. ²⁵So I decided to learn everything I could and become wise enough to discover what life is all about. At the same time, I wanted to understand why it's stupid and senseless to be an evil fool.

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Ecclesiastes 7:23-25

New International Version

²³All this I tested by wisdom and I said,

“I am determined to be wise”^(A)—
    but this was beyond me.
²⁴Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
    who can discover it?^(B)
²⁵So I turned my mind to understand,
    to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things^(C)
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
    and the madness of folly.^(D)

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Ecclesiastes 7:23-25

King James Version

²³All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

²⁴That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

²⁵I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

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Ecclesiastes 7:23-25

New King James Version

²³All this I have ^[a]proved by wisdom.
^(A)I said, “I will be wise”;
But it was far from me.
²⁴^(B)As for that which is far off and ^(C)exceedingly deep,
Who can find it out?
²⁵^(D)I applied my heart to know,
To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things,
To know the wickedness of folly,
Even of foolishness and madness.