Ecclesiastes 8:16 — Compare Translations

27 translations compared side by side

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that hath been done on the earth, (for there is also a spectator in whose eyes sleep is not by day and by night),

English ASV

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),

English Amplified

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to see the business activity and the painful effort that take place upon the earth--how neither day nor night some men's eyes sleep--

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to see the business activity and the painful effort that take place upon the earth–how neither day nor night some men's eyes sleep–

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one’s eyes do not close in sleep day or night),

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),

English EASY 2024

I tried very much to become wise. I wanted to understand the things that people do on the earth. People work in the day and in the night and they do not sleep.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

I carefully studied the things people do in this life. I saw how busy people are. They work day and night, and they almost never sleep.

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep,

English GNT (Good News Translation)

Whenever I tried to become wise and learn what goes on in the world, I realized that you could stay awake night and day

English God's Word - GW 1995

When I carefully considered how to study wisdom and how to look at the work that is done on earth (even going without sleep day and night),

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one's eyes do not close in sleep day or night),

English KJV 1611

When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

English LSB

When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the endeavor which has been done on the earth (even though one never sees sleep with his eyes day or night),

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to observe the business that is done on earth, while day and night there is no sleep for one’s eyes,

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe what is done on earth,

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth — even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night —

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

I used my mind to understand what it really means to be wise. I wanted to observe the hard work man does on earth. He doesn't close his eyes and go to sleep day or night.

English NIV

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man's labor on earth-his eyes not seeing sleep day or night-

English NKJ 1982

When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night,

English NLT

In my search for wisdom, I tried to observe everything that goes on all across the earth. I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how one's eyes see sleep neither day nor night,

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night one's eyes see sleep;

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

In my search for wisdom I observed all that was going on everywhere across the earth—ceaseless activity, day and night.

English Tyndale 1537

When I applied my mind to learn wisdom, and to know the travail that is in the world (and that of such a fashion, that I suffered not my eyes to sleep neither day nor night)