Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” New Living Translation “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” English Standard Version Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Berean Standard Bible “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!” King James Bible Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. New King James Version “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” New American Standard Bible “Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “Futility of futilities! All is futility.” NASB 1995 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” NASB 1977 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Legacy Standard Bible “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Amplified Bible “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].” Christian Standard Bible “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.” Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” American Standard Version Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Contemporary English Version Nothing makes sense! Everything is nonsense. I have seen it all--nothing makes sense! English Revised Version Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Absolutely pointless!" says the spokesman. "Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless." Good News Translation It is useless, useless, said the Philosopher. Life is useless, all useless. International Standard Version "Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Absolutely pointless; everything is pointless." Majority Standard Bible “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!” NET Bible "Futile! Futile!" laments the Teacher, "Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!" New Heart English Bible "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Webster's Bible Translation Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. World English Bible “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionVanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities: the whole [is] vanity. Young's Literal Translation Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole is vanity. Smith's Literal Translation Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; vanity of vanities, all vanity. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleVanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. Catholic Public Domain Version Ecclesiastes said: Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity! New American Bible Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! New Revised Standard Version Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleVanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Futility of futilities, says the Preacher; futility of futilities, everything is futility! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Brenton Septuagint Translation Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Everything is Futile1These are the words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!” 3What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?… Cross References Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope Psalm 39:5-6 You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah / Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away. James 4:14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” / And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” Psalm 144:4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. 1 Peter 1:24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, Isaiah 40:6-8 A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. / The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. / The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever. Job 7:16 I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath. Philippians 3:8 More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ Psalm 62:9 Lowborn men are but a vapor; the exalted are but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor. 2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Treasury of Scripture Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 2:11,15,17,19,21,23,26 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun… Ecclesiastes 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 4:4,8,16 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit… Jump to Previous Koheleth Meaningless Preacher Purpose Teacher Utterly Vanities Vanity Ways WholeJump to Next Koheleth Meaningless Preacher Purpose Teacher Utterly Vanities Vanity Ways WholeEcclesiastes 1 1. the preacher shows that all human courses are vain4. because the creatures are restless in their courses 9. they bring forth nothing new, and all old things are forgotten 12. and because he has found it so in the studies of wisdom Futility of futilities The Hebrew word used here is "הֲבֵל" (hebel), which is often translated as "vanity" or "meaninglessness" in other Bible versions. This word conveys a sense of breath or vapor, something transient and insubstantial. In the context of Ecclesiastes, it reflects the fleeting nature of human endeavors and the temporal world. The repetition of "futilities" emphasizes the superlative degree, suggesting that all human efforts, when viewed apart from God, are ultimately insubstantial and fleeting. This phrase sets the tone for the entire book, which explores the search for meaning in a world that often seems devoid of it. says the Teacher futility of futilities! Everything is futile! The word translated "vanity" (which occurs thirty-seven times in this book, and only thirty-three times in all the rest of the Old Testament) in its primary meaning denotes breath or vapour, and is so translated here in some of the Greek versions (comp. James 4:4); so in Isaiah 57:13. It is the same word as the proper name Abel, on which see Note on Genesis 4:2. It is frequently applied in Scripture to the follies of heathenism (Jeremiah 14:22, &c), and also to the whole estate of men (Psalm 39:5-6; Psalm 62:9; Psalm 144:4). The translation "vanity" is that of the LXX. We may reasonably believe that St. Paul (Romans 8:20) had this key-note of Ecclesiastes in his mind. . . . Verses 2-11. - PROLOGUE. The vanity of all human and mundane things, and the oppressive monotony of their continued recurrence. Verse 2. - Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity (comp. Ecclesiastes 12:8). "Vanity" is hebel, which means "breath," and is used metaphorically of anything transitory, frail, unsatisfying. We have it in the proper name Abel, an appropriate designation of the youth whose life was cut short by a brother's murderous hand. "Vanity of vanities," like "heaven of heavens" (1 Kings 8:27), "song of songs" (Song of Solomon 1:1), etc., is equivalent to a superlative, "most utterly vain." It is here an exclamation, and is to be regarded as the key-note of the whole subsequent treatise, which is merely the development of this text. Septuagint, ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων; other Greek translators, ἀτμὶς ἀτμίδων, "vapor of vapors." For "saith" the Vulgate gives dixit; the Septuagint, εϊπεν; but as there is no reference to any previous utterance of the Preacher, the present is more suitable here. In affirming that "all is vanity," the writer is referring to human and mundane things, and directs not his view beyond such phenomena. Such reflection is common in sacred and profane writings alike; such experience is universal (comp. Genesis 47:9; Psalm 39:5-7; Psalm 90:3-10; James 3:14). "Pulvis et umbra sumus," says Horace ('Carm.,' 4:7. 16. "O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane!" (Persius, 'Sat.,' 1:1). If Dean Plumptre is correct in contending that the Book of Wisdom was written to rectify the deductions which might be drawn from Koheleth, we may contrast the caution of the apocryphal writer, who predicates vanity, not of all things, but only of the hope of the ungodly, which he likens to dust, froth, and smoke (see Wisd. 2:1, etc.; 5:14). St. Paul (Romans 8:20) seems to have had Ecclesiastes in mind when he spoke of the creation being subjected to vanity (τῇ ματαιότητι), as a consequence of the fall of man, not to be remedied till the final restitution of all things. "But a man will say, If all things are vain and vanity, wherefore were they made? If they are God's works, how are they vain? But it is not the works of God which he calls vain. God forbid! The heaven is not vain; the earth is not vain: God forbid! Nor the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, nor our own body. No; all these are very good. But what is vain? Man's works, pomp, and vain-glory. These came not from the hand of God, but are of our own creating. And they are vain because they have no useful end That is called vain which is expected indeed to possess value, yet possesses it not; that which men call empty, as when they speak of 'empty hopes,' and that which is fruitless. And generally that is called vain which is of no use. Let us see, then, whether all human things are not of this sort" (St. Chrysostom, 'Hem. 12. in Ephes.').Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Futilityהֲבֵ֤ל (hă·ḇêl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory of futilities,” הֲבָלִים֙ (hă·ḇā·lîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory says אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say the Teacher, קֹהֶ֔לֶת (qō·he·leṯ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6953: Preacher -- 'a collector (of sentences)', 'a preacher', a son of David “futility הֲבֵ֥ל (hă·ḇêl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory of futilities! הֲבָלִ֖ים (hă·ḇā·lîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory Everything הַכֹּ֥ל (hak·kōl) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every is futile!” הָֽבֶל׃ (hā·ḇel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory Links Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIVEcclesiastes 1:2 NLT Ecclesiastes 1:2 ESV Ecclesiastes 1:2 NASB Ecclesiastes 1:2 KJV Ecclesiastes 1:2 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 1:2 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 1:2 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 1:2 French Bible Ecclesiastes 1:2 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities says the Preacher (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
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