King James Version

Ecclesiastes 1:18

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

כִּ֛יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…בְּרֹ֥בberovin abundanceרֹבpreposition, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “in abundance”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7230abundance (in any respect)abundance(-antly), all, [idiom] common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), [idiom] very (age).חָכְמָ֖הchakhemahwisdomחׇכְמָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “wisdom”, the ordinary formH2451wisdom (in a good sense)skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.רָבravaboundרַבnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “abound”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7227abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude),…כָּ֑עַסkaasangerכַּעַסnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “anger”, the ordinary formH3708vexationanger, angry, grief, indignation, provocation, provoking, [idiom] sore, sorrow, spite, wrath.וְיוֹסִ֥יףveyosifand addיָסַףconjunction, verb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and add”, an unfinished actionH3254to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)add, [idiom] again, [idiom] any more, [idiom] cease, [idiom] come more, [phrase] conceive again, continue, exceed, [idiom] further, [idiom] gather together, get more, give more-over, [idiom] henceforth, increase (more and more), join, [idi…דַּ֖עַתdaatcunningדַּעַתnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “cunning”, the ordinary formH1847knowledgecunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly).יוֹסִ֥יףyosifaddיָסַףverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “add”, an unfinished actionH3254to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)add, [idiom] again, [idiom] any more, [idiom] cease, [idiom] come more, [phrase] conceive again, continue, exceed, [idiom] further, [idiom] gather together, get more, give more-over, [idiom] henceforth, increase (more and more), join, [idi…מַכְאֽוֹבmakhovgriefמַכְאֹבnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “grief”, the ordinary formH4341anguish or (figuratively) afflictiongrief, pain, sorrow.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Young’s Literal Translation

for, in abundance of wisdom [is] abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.'

World English Bible

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Darby Translation

For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Douay-Rheims

Because In much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he that increases knowledge will increase sorrow.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὅτι ἐν πλήθει σοφίας πλῆθος γνώσεως, καὶ ὁ προστιθεὶς γνῶσιν, προσθήσει ἄλγημα.