Ecclesiastes 1:16
Good News Translation
I told myself, "I have become a great man, far wiser than anyone who ruled Jerusalem before me. I know what wisdom and knowledge really are."

New Revised Standard Version
I said to myself, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

Contemporary English Version
I said to myself, "You are by far the wisest person who has ever lived in Jerusalem. You are eager to learn, and you have learned a lot."

New American Bible
Though I said to myself, “See, I have greatly increased my wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem, and my mind has broad experience of wisdom and knowledge,”

Douay-Rheims Bible
I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.

communed

2 Kings 5:20 But Giezi, the servant of the man of God, said: My master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving of him that which he brought: as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take something of him.

Psalm 4:4 Be ye angry, and sin not: the things you say in your hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds.

Psalm 77:6 And I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was exercised and I swept my spirit.

Isaiah 10:7-14 But he shall not take it so, and his heart shall not think so: but his heart shall be set to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few. . . .

Jeremiah 22:14 Who saith: I will build me a wide house, and large chambers: who openeth to himself windows, and maketh roofs of cedar, and painteth them with vermilion.

Ezekiel 38:10,11 Thus saith the Lord God: In that day projects shall enter into thy heart, and thou shalt conceive a mischievous design. . . .

Daniel 4:30 The same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor, and he was driven away from among men, and did eat grass, like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: till his hairs grew like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like birds' claws.

lo

Ecclesiastes 2:9 And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my wisdom also remained with me.

1 Kings 3:12,13 Behold I have done for thee according to thy words, and have given thee a wise and understanding heart, in so much that there hath been no one like thee before thee, nor shall arise after thee. . . .

1 Kings 4:30 And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the Orientals, and of the Egyptians;

1 Kings 10:7,23,24 Concerning thy words, and concerning thy wisdom. And I did not believe them that told me, till I came myself, and saw with my own eyes, and have found that the half hath not been told me: thy wisdom and thy works exceed the fame which I heard. . . .

2 Chronicles 1:10-12 Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may come in and go out before thy people: for who can worthily judge this thy people, which is so great? . . .

2 Chronicles 2:12 And he added, saying: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who hath given to king David a wise and knowing son, endued with understanding and prudence, to build a house to the Lord, and a palace for himself.

2 Chronicles 9:22,23 And Solomon was magnified above all the kings of the earth for riches and glory. . . .

great experience of

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat is for the perfect: for them who by custom have their senses exercised to the discerning of good and evil.

Context
With Wisdom Comes Sorrow
15The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite. 16I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.17And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,…
Cross References
1 Kings 3:12
Behold I have done for thee according to thy words, and have given thee a wise and understanding heart, in so much that there hath been no one like thee before thee, nor shall arise after thee.

1 Kings 4:30
And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the Orientals, and of the Egyptians;

1 Kings 10:23
And king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 2:9
And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my wisdom also remained with me.

Ecclesiastes 1:15
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