Ecc 1:16 | NET2full | STEP | I thought to myself , “ I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem ; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge .”

‏ Ecclesiastes 1:16

Futility of Secular Wisdom

16 I thought to myself, ^{▼▼tn Heb “I spoke, I, with my heart.”}
“I have become much wiser ^{▼▼tn Heb “I, look, I have made great and increased wisdom.” The expression הִגְדַּלְתִּי וְהוֹסַפְתִּי (higdalti vehosafti) is a verbal hendiadys; it means that Qoheleth had become the wisest man in the history of Jerusalem.} than any of my predecessors who ruled ^{▼▼tn The phrase “who ruled” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.} over Jerusalem;
I ^{▼▼tn Heb “my heart” (לִבִּי, libbi). The term “heart” is a metonymy of part for the whole (“my heart” = myself).} have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.” ^{▼▼tn Heb “My heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.”}