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

Prologue

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

Motto Introduced

“Vanity of vanities!” says the Teacher,[b]
    “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!”

All Toil is Profitless and Repetitious

What does a person gain in all his toil
    with which he toils under the sun?

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 1:1 Hebrew “Qohelet”
  2. Ecclesiastes 1:2 Hebrew “Qohelet”