Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

[16] 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:)  [17] Then I beheld  all the work  of God,  that a man  cannot  find out  the work  that is done  under the sun:  because  though  a man  labour  to seek it out,  yet he shall not find  it; yea further; though a wise  man think  to know  it, yet shall he not be able  to find 

What does Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Solomon meant that even the wisest, most energetic person could not fully understand God"s ways (cf. Ecclesiastes 7:14 b; Ecclesiastes 7:28 a; Matthew 9:34). This is a point he made since Ecclesiastes 6:10.