Bible Verses About Investigation

I wisely applied myself to seek out and investigate everything done under heaven. What a bothersome task God has given humanity to keep us occupied!

I have seen all the activities that are done under the sun, and it's all pointless, feeding on wind.

What is crooked can't be straightened; what is not there can't be counted.

I said to myself, "Look, I have acquired much wisdom, more than anyone ruling Yerushalayim before me."Yes, I experienced a great deal of wisdom and knowledge;

yet when I applied myself to understanding wisdom and knowledge, as well as stupidity and folly, I came to see that this too was merely feeding on wind.

For in much wisdom is much grief; the more knowledge, the more suffering.

I said to myself, "Come now, I will test myself with pleasure and enjoying good things"; but this too was pointless.

Of laughter I said, "This is stupid," and of pleasure, "What's the use of it?"

I searched my mind for how to gratify my body with wine and, with my mind still guiding me with wisdom, how to pursue foolishness; my object was to find out what was the best thing for people to do during the short time they have under heaven to live.

I worked on a grand scale - I built myself palaces, planted myself vineyards,

and made myself gardens and parks; in them I planted all kinds of fruit trees.

I made myself pools from which to water the trees springing up in the forest.

I bought male and female slaves, and I had my home-born slaves as well. I also had growing herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than anyone before me in Yerushalayim.

I amassed silver and gold, the wealth of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, things that provide sensual delight, and a good many concubines.

So I grew great, surpassing all who preceded me in Yerushalayim; my wisdom, too, stayed with me.

I denied my eyes nothing they wanted. I withheld no pleasure from myself; for I took pleasure in all my work, and this was my reward for all my work.

Then I looked at all that my hands had accomplished and at the work I had toiled at; and I saw that it was all meaningless and feeding on wind, and that there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

So I decided to look more carefully at wisdom, stupidity and foolishness; for what can the man who succeeds the king do, except what has already been done?

Not only was Kohelet wise, he also taught the people what he knew; also he weighed, researched and corrected many ethical sayings.

Kohelet worked to develop an attractive writing style, in which he expressed the truth straightforwardly.

The sayings of the wise are as sharp as goads, and those given by leaders of assemblies are like well-fixed nails; [in this case,] they are presented by a single shepherd.

In addition, my son, take heed: one can write many books - there's no end to it; and one can study so much that it wearies the flesh.

Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.

For God will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad. [Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.]