Ecclesiastes 7:23

Human Wisdom is Limited

7:23 I have examined all this by wisdom;

I said, “I am determined ¹  to comprehend this” ²  – but it was beyond my grasp. ³ 

Ecclesiastes 9:13

Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel

9:13 This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, ⁴ 

and it is a great burden ⁵  to me:

[7:23]  ¹ tn The cohortative אֶחְכָּמָה (’ekhkamah, from חָכַם, khakham,“to be wise”) emphasizes the resolve (determination) of Qoheleth to become wise enough to understand the perplexities of life.

[7:23]  ² tn Or “I am determined to become wise”

[7:23]  ³ tn Or “but it eluded me”; Heb “but it was far from me.”

[9:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “under the sun.”

[9:13]  ⁵ tn The term “burden” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.