So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the troops saying, “See, the king is sitting at the gate,” all the troops presented themselves before the king. Meanwhile, Israel had fled each man to his tent.
Ecclesiastes 4:16 - Tree of Life Version There is no end to all the people—to all who were before him. Also those who will come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this too is meaningless and striving after the wind. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition There was no end to all the people; he was over all of them. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it. American Standard Version (1901) There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Common English Bible There was no counting the number of people he ruled, but those who came later aren’t happy with him. This too is pointless and a chasing after wind. Catholic Public Domain Version The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version The number of the people, of all that were before him is infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit. |
So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the troops saying, “See, the king is sitting at the gate,” all the troops presented themselves before the king. Meanwhile, Israel had fled each man to his tent.
All the people went up after him, while the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the ground shook at their noise.
I have seen all the deeds done under the sun; and behold, all is meaningless and chasing after the wind.
Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended to accomplish it, behold, it all was futile and chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
And so I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. All is but vapor and chasing after the wind.
For to the one who pleases Him, He gives wisdom, knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating wealth to give it to one who pleases God. This also is only vapor and striving after the wind.
I considered all the living that walk under the sun as well as the next youth who stands in his place.