14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is (A)vanity[a] and a striving after wind.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 1:14 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
  2. Ecclesiastes 1:14 Or a feeding on wind; compare Hosea 12:1 (also in Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9)

11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was (A)vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing (B)to be gained under the sun.

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Better (A)is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is (B)vanity and a striving after wind.

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26 For to the one who pleases him (A)God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given (B)the business of gathering and collecting, (C)only to give to one who pleases God. (D)This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for (A)all is vanity and a striving after wind.

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Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is (A)vanity[a] and a striving after wind.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 4:4 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 7, 8, 16 (see note on 1:2)

17 And I (A)applied my heart to know wisdom and to know (B)madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but (C)a striving after wind.

18 For (D)in much wisdom is much vexation,
    and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

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Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and (A)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely (B)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
    Surely a man (C)goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing[a] they are in turmoil;
    man (D)heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath

30 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all (A)the people of the east (B)and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was (C)wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 (D)He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, (E)and his songs were 1,005.

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