Translation
I said to myself, “See, I have grown great by my own efforts; I have caused myself to grow
Go to footnote numberin wisdom more than all that have been before me in
JERUSALEM, and my heart has greatly experienced wisdom
and knowledge.
Paraphrase
I said to myself, “See, I have become very wealthy and powerful by my own efforts; I worked hard to expand my wisdom so it was more
than all that have
come before me in
THE REALM OF PEACE, and my inner being has thoroughly experienced wisdom
and knowledge.
Footnotes
1: “caused myself to grow”
This word means “added.” Both this verb and the preceding one are causative, meaning that he put forth the effort to make it happen. I don’t think he is taking credit away from God here. Rather, God granted him wisdom, but he purposefully and actively worked at expanding that wisdom by studying many topics, and honing the skills required to communicate that wisdom clearly and memorably. God gives us gifts and abilities, but then the “use it or lose it” principle comes into play. In that way, God and man both have a role.