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The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

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The Theme

The words of the Teacher,[a] the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

“Utterly pointless,”[b]
        says the Teacher.
“Absolutely pointless;
    everything is pointless.”
What does a man gain
    from all of the work that he undertakes on earth?[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 1:1 Or Speaker, Or Philosopher, and so throughout the book
  2. Ecclesiastes 1:2 Or Utter vanity; and so throughout the book
  3. Ecclesiastes 1:3 Lit. under the sun; i.e. from an earthly perspective; and so throughout the book

Everything Is Meaningless

The words of the Teacher,[a](A) son of David, king in Jerusalem:(B)

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
    says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
    Everything is meaningless.”(C)

What do people gain from all their labors
    at which they toil under the sun?(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 1:1 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 2 and 12