Ecclesiastes 1:2
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.(A)
Ecclesiastes 1:2
New International Version
2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”(A)
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Futility of Seeking Wisdom
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to humans to be busy with.(A) 14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.(B)
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Ecclesiastes 1:12-14
New International Version
Wisdom Is Meaningless
12 I, the Teacher,(A) was king over Israel in Jerusalem.(B) 13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens.(C) What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!(D) 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(E)
Ecclesiastes 2:18-23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
18 I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to my successor,(A) 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun,(B) 21 because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.(C) 22 What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun?(D) 23 For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.(E)
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Ecclesiastes 2:18-23
New International Version
18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.(A) 19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish?(B) Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. 20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 21 For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?(C) 23 All their days their work is grief and pain;(D) even at night their minds do not rest.(E) This too is meaningless.
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