122 Bible verses about Vanity

Vanity is something we all struggle with, no matter our age, background, or what we've accomplished. It's easy to get caught up in it, you know?

Throughout the Bible, there are so many reminders about the trap of vanity. Ecclesiastes, for example – King Solomon talks about how short life is and how pointless it is to chase after wealth and fame. It really makes you think about where you're placing your hope and trust. All the stuff we accumulate, all the accolades we receive – they won't mean a thing in eternity. We need to put our hope in God.

And in the New Testament, Jesus teaches us to focus on what truly matters – the eternal. He encourages us not to get caught up in what other people think. Instead, He shows us how to find our true purpose and live a meaningful life, a life centered on loving God and loving others. It's a powerful message, isn't it?

Vanity pulls us away from humility. It makes us want to be exalted, to be the center of attention. It makes us forget about loving others and following God's will. We have to be mindful of that.

Surely God will not hear vanity, Neither will the Almighty regard it.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: But he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: But a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

I have hated them that regard lying vanities: But I trust in the LORD.

As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, So is a fair woman which is without discretion.

I loathe it; I would not live alway: Let me alone; for my days are vanity.

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; And mine age is as nothing before thee: Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: For vanity shall be his recompence.

When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. Selah.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: To be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, And their years in trouble.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.

The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; And quicken thou me in thy way.

Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away.

The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Whose mouth speaketh vanity, And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.

For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

For All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Thy prophets have seen vain And foolish things for thee: And they have not discovered thine iniquity, To turn away thy captivity; But have seen for thee false burdens And causes of banishment.

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

A man's pride shall bring him low: But honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

For he seeth that wise men die, Likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, And their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; Violence covereth them as a garment.Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; And before honour is humility.

Except the LORD build the house, They labour in vain that build it: Except the LORD keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

An high look, and a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased;For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: His glory shall not descend after him.

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me:Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And take the name of my God in vain.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; But trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:not of works, lest any man should boast.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.

I have seen an end of all perfection: But thy commandment is exceeding broad.

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, and honour, and life.

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

As for man, his days are as grass: As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Prayer