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:)
When I set my mind to understand wisdom and to observe all the work that people do on earth (there are some who don't get any sleep, day or night):
The writer is describing his intense effort to understand life and wisdom, noting how some people work tirelessly without rest in their pursuits.
📚 Historical Context
Ecclesiastes is a book in the Old Testament attributed to King Solomon, who was renowned for his wisdom and ruled Israel around 970-930 BC. In this verse, Solomon reflects on his deep pursuit of understanding wisdom and the ceaseless human activities on earth, including people who work relentlessly without rest, highlighting the futility and exhaustion often found in life's endeavors. This fits into the broader biblical narrative where wisdom literature explores the limits of human knowledge amidst the realities of ancient Near Eastern culture.
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