Ecclesiastes 8:16

NETBible

When I tried 1  to gain 2  wisdom and to observe the activity 3  on earth – even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night 4  –

NIV ©

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man’s labour on earth—his eyes not seeing sleep day or night—

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),

NLT ©

In my search for wisdom, I tried to observe everything that goes on all across the earth. I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night.

MSG ©

When I determined to load up on wisdom and examine everything taking place on earth, I realized that if you keep your eyes open day and night without even blinking,

BBE ©

When I gave my mind to the knowledge of wisdom and to seeing the business which is done on the earth (and there are those whose eyes see not sleep by day or by night),

NRSV ©

When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how one’s eyes see sleep neither day nor night,

NKJV ©

When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night,

KJV
When I applied
<05414> (8804)
mine heart
<03820>
to know
<03045> (8800)
wisdom
<02451>_,
and to see
<07200> (8800)
the business
<06045>
that is done
<06213> (8738)
upon the earth
<0776>_:
(for also [there is that] neither day
<03117>
nor night
<03915>
seeth
<07200> (8802)
sleep
<08142>
with his eyes
<05869>:)
NASB ©
When
<3512>
I gave
<5414>
my heart
<3820>
to know
<3045>
wisdom
<2451>
and to see
<7200>
the task
<6045>
which
<834>
has been done
<6213>
on the earth
<776>
(even
<1571>
though
<3588>
one
<369>
should never
<369>
sleep
<7200>
<8142>
<5869>
day
<3117>
or night
<3915>
),
LXXM
en
<1722> 
PREP
oiv
<3739> 
R-DPM
edwka
<1325> 
V-AAI-1S
thn
<3588> 
T-ASF
kardian
<2588> 
N-ASF
mou
<1473> 
P-GS
tou
<3588> 
T-GSN
gnwnai
<1097> 
V-AAN
sofian
<4678> 
N-ASF
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
tou
<3588> 
T-GSN
idein
<3708> 
V-AAN
ton
<3588> 
T-ASM
perispasmon {N-ASM} ton
<3588> 
T-ASM
pepoihmenon
<4160> 
V-RMPAS
epi
<1909> 
PREP
thv
<3588> 
T-GSF
ghv
<1065> 
N-GSF
oti
<3754> 
CONJ
kai
<2532> 
ADV
ge
<1065> 
PRT
en
<1722> 
PREP
hmera
<2250> 
N-DSF
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
en
<1722> 
PREP
nukti
<3571> 
N-DSF
upnon
<5258> 
N-ASM
en
<1722> 
PREP
ofyalmoiv
<3788> 
N-DPM
autou
<846> 
D-GSM
ouk
<3364> 
ADV
estin
<1510> 
V-PAI-3S
blepwn
<991> 
V-PAPNS
NET [draft] ITL
When I tried
<03820>

<05414>
to gain
<03045>
wisdom
<02451>
and to observe
<07200>
the activity
<06045>
on
<05921>
earth
<0776>
– even
<01571>
though
<03588>
it prevents
<0369>

<05869>
anyone from sleeping
<08142>
day
<03117>
or night
<03915>
–
HEBREW
har
<07200>
wnnya
<0369>
wynyeb
<05869>
hns
<08142>
hlylbw
<03915>
Mwyb
<03117>
Mg
<01571>
yk
<03588>
Urah
<0776>
le
<05921>
hven
<06213>
rsa
<0834>
Nyneh
<06045>
ta
<0853>
twarlw
<07200>
hmkx
<02451>
tedl
<03045>
ybl
<03820>
ta
<0853>
yttn
<05414>
rsak (8:16)
<0834>
NETBible

When I tried 1  to gain 2  wisdom and to observe the activity 3  on earth – even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night 4  –

NET Notes

1 tn Heb “I applied my heart.”

2 tn Heb “to know.”

3 tn Heb “and to see the business which is done.”

4 tn Heb “for no one sees sleep with their eyes either day or night.” The construction גַם …כִּי (ki… gam) expresses a concessive sense: “even though” (e.g., Ps 23:4; Prov 22:6; Eccl 4:14; Isa 1:15; Lam 3:8; Hos 8:10; 9:16); cf. HALOT 196 s.v. גַּם 9; BDB 169 s.v. גַּם 6; 473 s.v. כִּי 2.c.