Ecclesiastes 4:16 - The Scriptures 1998

¹⁶ There was no end of all the people; all of whom he headed. But the ones who come afterward do not rejoice in him. For that too is futile and feeding on wind.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹⁶ 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁶ There was no end to all the people; he was over all of them. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁶ There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Common English Bible

¹⁶ There was no counting the number of people he ruled, but those who came later aren’t happy with him. This too is pointless and a chasing after wind.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁶ The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.

Ecclesiastes 4:16 Cross References

2 Samuel 19:9

And it came to be, that all the people were contending throughout all the tribes of Yisra’ĕ

1 Kings 1:40

And all the people came up after him. And the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise!

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. And see, all was futile and feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

But when I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labour in which I had toiled, see, all was futile and feeding on wind, and there was no gain under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:17

And I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was evil on me, for all is futile and feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His eyes. But to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and collecting, to give to him who is good before Elohim. That too is futile and feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:15

I have seen all the living who walk under the sun; they were with the second youth who stands in his place.