Ecclesiastes 1:2

New International Reader's Version

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

Cross References

Job 11:12

A wild donkey’s colt can’t be born a human being. And it’s just as impossible that a person without sense can become wise.

Psalm 144:4

Their lives don’t last any longer than a breath. Their days are like a shadow that quickly disappears.

Psalm 89:47

Remember how short my life is. You have created all people for such a useless purpose!

Ecclesiastes 11:10

So drive worry out of your heart. Get rid of all your troubles. Being young and strong doesn’t have any meaning.

Ecclesiastes 11:8

No matter how many years anyone might live, let them enjoy all of them. But let them remember the dark days. There will be many of those. Nothing that’s going to happen will have any meaning.

Ecclesiastes 12:8

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

Ecclesiastes 2:11

But then I looked over everything my hands had done. I saw what I had worked so hard to get. And nothing had any meaning. It was like chasing the wind. Nothing was gained on this earth.

Ecclesiastes 2:15

Then I said to myself, “What happens to a foolish person will catch up with me too. So what do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “That doesn’t have any meaning either.”

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 2:19

And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Either way, they’ll take over everything on earth I’ve worked so hard for. That doesn’t have any meaning either.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

A person might use wisdom, knowledge and skill to do their work. But then they have to leave everything they own to someone who hasn’t worked for it. That doesn’t have any meaning either. In fact, it isn’t fair.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

As long as they live, their work is nothing but pain and sorrow. Even at night their minds can’t rest. That doesn’t have any meaning either.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness to the person who pleases him. But to a sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth. Then the sinner must hand it over to the one who pleases God. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:8

I stored up silver and gold for myself. I gathered up the treasures of kings and their kingdoms. I got some male and female singers. I also got many women for myself. Women delight the hearts of men.

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 4:16

At first, all the people served him when he became king. But those who came later weren’t pleased with the way he was ruling. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

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 4:8

A man lived all by himself. He didn’t have any sons or brothers. His hard work never ended. But he wasn’t happy with what he had. “Who am I working so hard for?” he asked. “Why don’t I get the things I enjoy?” That doesn’t have any meaning either. In fact, it’s a very bad deal!

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Anyone who loves money never has enough. Anyone who loves wealth is never satisfied with what they get. That doesn’t have any meaning either.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

The more words people use, the less meaning there is. And that doesn’t help anyone.

Romans 8:20

The created world was held back from fulfilling its purpose. But this was not the result of its own choice. It was planned that way by the one who held it back. God planned