Ecc 8:16 | NET2full | STEP | When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth — even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night

Ecclesiastes 8:16

Limitations of Human Wisdom

16 When I tried ^{▼▼tn Heb “I applied my heart.”} to gain ^{▼▼tn Heb “to know.”} wisdom
and to observe the activity ^{▼▼tn Heb “and to see the business which is done.”} on earth—
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night ^{▼▼tn Heb “for no one sees sleep with their eyes either day or night.” The construction גַםכִּי (ki gam) expresses a concessive sense: “even though” (e.g., Ps 23:4; Prov 22:6; Eccl 4:14; Isa 1:15; Lam 3:8; Hos 8:10; 9:16); cf. HALOT 196 s.v. גַּם 9; BDB 169 s.v. גַּם 6; 473 s.v. כִּי 2.c.} —