Ecclesiastes 1:2

New English Translation

“Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher, “Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”

Cross References

Job 11:12

But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being.

Psalm 144:4

People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears.

Psalm 89:47

Take note of my brief lifespan! Why do you make all people so mortal?

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 11:8

So, 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 is about to come is obscure.

Ecclesiastes 12:8

“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher, “All of these things are futile!”

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless – like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

Ecclesiastes 2:15

So I thought to myself, “The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself, “The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”

Ecclesiastes 2:17

So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile – like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth – only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile – like chasing the wind!

Ecclesiastes 2:8

I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight – a harem of beautiful concubines!

Ecclesiastes 3:19

For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!

Ecclesiastes 5:10

The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

Romans 8:20

For the creation was subjected to futility – not willingly but because of God who subjected it – in hope