Ecclesiastes 2:11 - Revised Standard Version (RSV-CI)

¹¹ Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹¹ 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹¹ Then I looked on all that my hands had done and the labor I had spent in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it, and there was no profit under the sun. [Matt. 16:26.]

American Standard Version (1901)

¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

Common English Bible

¹¹ But when I surveyed all that my hands had done, and what I had worked so hard to achieve, I realized that it was pointless—a chasing after wind. Nothing is to be gained under the sun.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹¹ But when I turned myself toward all the works that my hands had made, and to the labors in which I had perspired to no purpose, I saw emptiness and affliction of the soul in all things, and that nothing is permanent under the sun.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹¹ And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Cross References

Genesis 1:31

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

Psalm 89:47

Remember, O Lord, what the measure of life is, for what vanity thou hast created all the sons of men!

Exodus 39:43

And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. And Moses blessed them.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen everything that is done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:3

What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 3:9

What gain has the worker from his toil?

Ecclesiastes 5:10

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money; nor he who loves wealth, with gain: this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:16

This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go; and what gain has he that he toiled for the wind,

Habakkuk 2:13

Behold, is it not from the Lord of hosts that peoples labor only for fire, and nations weary themselves for naught?

1 Timothy 6:6

There is great gain in godliness with contentment;