“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find out the scheme;
Parallel translations
- KJV Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
- BSB “Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.
- NKJV Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher, “Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason,
- NASB “Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “by adding one thing to another to find an explanation,
- NLT “This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Preacher reports his careful, step-by-step investigation, weighing one thing against another to discover wisdom's true 'sum.' It reminds us that biblical wisdom comes through honest, patient reflection on life as it really is.
Overview
Qoheleth summarizes his method: adding observation to observation in search of the underlying scheme or account of things. This pursuit of understanding is sober and empirical, refusing easy answers. It sets the stage for his conclusion that fallen humanity, left to itself, is bent toward crooked schemes, a need finally answered in the wisdom of God revealed in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Eccl 12:8–10“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”
- Eccl 1:1–2The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 7:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.