Everything is so meaningless. The Teacher says that it is all a waste of time! {\cf2\super [47]}
Ecclesiastes 1:14 - Easy To Read Version I looked at all the things done on earth, and I saw that it is all a waste of time. It is like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [6]} Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a striving after the wind and a feeding on wind. American Standard Version (1901) I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. Common English Bible When I observed all that happens under the sun, I realized that everything is pointless, a chasing after wind. Catholic Public Domain Version I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit. |
Everything is so meaningless. The Teacher says that it is all a waste of time! {\cf2\super [47]}
But then I looked at all the things I had done. I thought about all the hard work I did. I decided it was all a waste of time! It was like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [8]} There is nothing to gain from all the things we do in this life.
This made me hate life. It made me very sad to think that everything in this life {\cf2\super [10]} is useless, like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [11]}
If a person does good and pleases God, then God will give that person wisdom, knowledge, and joy. But a person that sins will get only the work of gathering and carrying things. God takes from the bad person and gives to the good person. But all this work is useless. It is like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [14]}
Is a man better than an animal? \{No!\} Why? Because everything is useless. The same thing happens to animals and to people—they die. People and animals have the same “breath.” {\cf2\super [19]} Is a dead animal different from a dead person?
Many, many people will follow this young man. But later, those same people will not like him. This is also senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [22]}
Then I thought, “Why do people work so hard?” I saw people try to succeed and be better than other people. Why? Because people are jealous. They don’t want other people to have more than they have. This is senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [21]}
Maybe that is true. But I say it is better to be satisfied with the few things you have than to always be struggling to get more.
It is better to be happy with the things you have than to always want more and more. Always wanting more and more is useless. It is like trying to catch the wind. {\cf2\super [29]}
I carefully studied the things people do in this life. I saw how busy people are. They work day and night, and they almost never sleep.