Ecclesiastes 1:2

Modern English Version

“Vanity of vanities,” says Qoheleth, “vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

Cross References

Job 11:12

For an empty-headed man will become wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

Psalm 144:4

Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

Psalm 89:47

Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have You created all the sons of men?

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Remove anxiety from your heart, and put away distress from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Ecclesiastes 11:8

Even if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:8

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Teacher, “everything is vanity!”

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Then I turned to all the work that my hands had done, and all the labor in which I had toiled doing it; and again, all of it was vanity and chasing the wind, and there was no benefit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15

Then I said in my heart, “The same event that befalls the fool will also befall me. So to what advantage is my wisdom?” Then I said to myself, “This also is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 2:17

So I began to hate life, because the labor that was done under the sun was contemptible to me, for all of this is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knows if this man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will gain power over all for which I have toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet to a person who did not labor for this, he leaves it as his inheritance. This also is vanity and a great distress.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

All his days are sorrowful, and his work is a vexation. Even at night his heart finds no rest. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

To the person who is pleasing before Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the one who sins, He gives the task to gather and collect, to give to the other person who is pleasing before God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:8

I also gathered for myself silver and gold and precious possessions of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and the sensual delights of any human being, even a harem of many concubines.

Ecclesiastes 3:19

For there is an event for people and an event for animals, one fate for them both; as one dies, so does the other; there is one breath for all of them. There is no advantage for people over animals, for everything is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

There was no limit to all the people, to all who were before him. But all those who were to come later would not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I observed that all labor and skill of work come one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is a person who is alone, having neither son nor brother; there is not an end to all his toil, and his eyes are not satisfied with riches. He asks, “For whom do I labor and cause my life to lack good things?” This also is vanity and a burdensome task.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

The one who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; the one who loves money desires revenues in abundance. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

For when there are many debating words, there is more vanity. What is the benefit to a person?

Romans 8:20

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope