King James Version

Ecclesiastes 7:23

All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

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Hebrew

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כָּלkalallכֹּלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “all”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).זֹ֖הzothisזֹהpronoun, demonstrative, masculine, singular — “this”H2090this or thatas well as another, it, this, that, thus and thus.נִסִּ֣יתִיnisitiadventureנָסָהverb, piel, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “adventure”, a completed actionH5254to test; by implication, to attemptadventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.בַֽחָכְמָ֑הvachakhemahin wisdomחׇכְמָהpreposition, with the article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “in wisdom”, the ordinary formH2451wisdom (in a good sense)skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.אָמַ֣רְתִּיamartisayאָמַרverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “say”, a completed actionH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…אֶחְכָּ֔מָהechkamahbe wiseחָכַםverb, qal, cohortative, 1st person, common, singular — “be wise”, a determination or requestH2449to be wise (in mind, word or act)[idiom] exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal (never so) wisely, make wiser.וְהִ֖יאvehiand as for herהוּאconjunction, pronoun, personal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “and as for her”H1931he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or arehe, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.רְחוֹקָ֥הrechoqahof oldרָחוֹקadjective, adjective, feminine, singular, absolute — “of old”, the ordinary formH7350remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)(a-) far (abroad, off), long ago, of old, space, great while to come.מִמֶּֽנִּיmimenifromמִןpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “from”H4480properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many sensesabove, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: 'I will get wisdom'; but it was far from me.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

Young’s Literal Translation

All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, 'I am wise,' and it [is] far from me.

World English Bible

All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.

Darby Translation

All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

Douay-Rheims

For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: 'I will get wisdom'; but it was far from me.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

All these things have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Πάντα ταῦτα ἐπείρασα ἐν σοφίᾳ· εἶπα, σοφισθήσομαι· καὶ αὕτη ἐμακρύνθη ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ.