ESV
KJV
17. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

ASV
17. And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

ERVEN
17. I decided to learn how wisdom and knowledge are better than thinking foolish thoughts. But I learned that trying to become wise is like trying to catch the wind.

NLT
17. So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.

WEB
17. I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

NET
17. So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

NLV
17. And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know what is crazy and foolish. I saw that this also is like trying to catch the wind.

HCSB
17. I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.

YLT
17. And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] vexation of spirit;

LITV
17. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness, and folly. I know that this also, it is striving after wind.

RV
17. And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

NCV
17. So I decided to find out about wisdom and knowledge and also about foolish thinking, but this turned out to be like chasing the wind.

MKJV
17. And I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I know that this also is vexation of spirit.

AKJV
17. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

LXXEN
17. And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is [Lit. deliberate choice] waywardness of spirit.



KJV
17. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

AMP
17. And I gave my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I perceived that this also is a searching after wind and a feeding on it. [I Thess. 5:21.]

KJVP
17. And I gave H5414 my heart H3820 NMS-1MS to know H3045 L-VQFC wisdom H2451 NFS , and to know H3045 madness H1947 and folly H5531 : I perceived H3045 VQY1MS that this H2088 DPRO also H7945 [ is ] vexation H7475 of spirit H7307 NMS .

YLT
17. And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] vexation of spirit;

ASV
17. And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

WEB
17. I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

NASB
17. yet when I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly, I learned that this also is a chase after wind.

ESV
17. And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

RV
17. And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

RSV
17. And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

NKJV
17. And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

MKJV
17. And I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I know that this also is vexation of spirit.

AKJV
17. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

NRSV
17. And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.

NIV
17. Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

NIRV
17. Then I used my mind to understand what it really means to be wise. And I wanted to know what foolish pleasure is all about. But I found out that that's also like chasing the wind.

NLT
17. So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind.

MSG
17. What I've finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless--nothing but spitting into the wind.

GNB
17. I was determined to learn the difference between knowledge and foolishness, wisdom and madness. But I found out that I might as well be chasing the wind.

NET
17. So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

ERVEN
17. I decided to learn how wisdom and knowledge are better than thinking foolish thoughts. But I learned that trying to become wise is like trying to catch the wind.