Ecclesiastes 1:17

New International Reader's Version

Then I used my mind to understand what it really means to be wise. And I wanted to know what foolish pleasure is all about. But I found out that it’s also like chasing the wind.

Cross References

Psalm 73:16

I tried to understand it all. But it was more than I could handle.

Ecclesiastes 12:8

“Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Nothing has any meaning.”

Ecclesiastes 2:17

So I hated life. That’s because the work done on this earth made me sad. None of it has any meaning. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:3

I tried cheering myself up by drinking wine. I even tried living in a foolish way. But wisdom was still guiding my mind. I wanted to see what was good for people to do on earth during their short lives.

Ecclesiastes 3:19

Surely what happens to animals happens to people too. Death waits for people and animals alike. People die, just as animals do. All of them have the same breath. People don’t have any advantage over animals. Nothing has any meaning.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

I also saw that a person works hard and accomplishes a lot. But they do it only because they want what another person has. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:6

One handful with peace and quiet is better than two handfuls with hard work. Working too hard is like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Being satisfied with what you have is better than always wanting more. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 8:16

I used my mind to understand what it really means to be wise. I wanted to observe the hard work people do on earth. They don’t close their eyes and go to sleep day or night.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

Here’s what is so bad about everything that happens on this earth. Death catches up with all of us. Also, the hearts of people are full of evil. They live in foolish pleasure. After that, they join those who have already died.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

But test all prophecies. Hold on to what is good.