Ecclesiastes 1:3

New Century Version

What do people really gain from all the hard work they do here on earth?

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 2:11

But then I looked at what I had done, and I thought about all the hard work. Suddenly I realized it was useless, like chasing the wind. There is nothing to gain from anything we do here on earth.

Ecclesiastes 2:18

I hated all the things I had worked for here on earth, because I must leave them to someone who will live after me.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

Someone else will control everything for which I worked so hard here on earth, and I don’t know if he will be wise or foolish. This is also useless.

Ecclesiastes 2:22

What do people get for all their work and struggling here on earth?

Ecclesiastes 3:9

Do people really gain anything from their work?

Ecclesiastes 4:3

But those who have never been born are better off still; they have not seen the evil that is done here on earth.

Ecclesiastes 4:7

Again I saw something here on earth that was useless:

Ecclesiastes 5:16

This, too, is real misery: They leave just as they came. So what do they gain from chasing the wind?

Ecclesiastes 5:18

I have seen what is best for people here on earth. They should eat and drink and enjoy their work, because the life God has given them on earth is short.

Ecclesiastes 6:12

People have only a few useless days of life on the earth; their short life passes like a shadow. Who knows what is best for them while they live? Who can tell them what the future will bring?

Ecclesiastes 7:11

Wisdom is better when it comes with money. They both help those who are alive.

Ecclesiastes 9:13

I also saw something wise here on earth that impressed me.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

This is something wrong that happens here on earth: What happens to one happens to all. So people’s minds are full of evil and foolish thoughts while they live. After that, they join the dead.

Ecclesiastes 9:6

After people are dead, they can no longer love or hate or envy. They will never again share in what happens here on earth.

Isaiah 55:2

Why spend your money on something that is not real food? Why work for something that doesn’t really satisfy you? Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies.

Habakkuk 2:13

The Lord All-Powerful will send fire to destroy what those people have built; all the nations’ work will be for nothing.

Habakkuk 2:18

“An idol does no good, because a human made it; it is only a statue that teaches lies. The one who made it expects his own work to help him, but he makes idols that can’t even speak!

Matthew 16:26

It is worthless to have the whole world if they lose their souls. They could never pay enough to buy back their souls.

John 6:27

Don’t work for the food that spoils. Work for the food that stays good always and gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give you this food, because on him God the Father has put his power.”

1 Corinthians 16:16

to follow the leading of people like these and anyone else who works and serves with them.