Parallel Verses

Holman Bible

“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.
“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”

New American Standard Bible

Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

King James Version

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

International Standard Version

"Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Absolutely pointless; everything is pointless."

A Conservative Version

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

American Standard Version

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

Amplified


“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].”

Bible in Basic English

All is to no purpose, said the Preacher, all the ways of man are to no purpose.

Darby Translation

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities! all is vanity.

Julia Smith Translation

Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; vanity of vanities, all vanity.

King James 2000

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Lexham Expanded Bible

"Vanity of vanities!" says the Teacher, "Vanity of vanities! All [is] vanity!"

Modern King James verseion

Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

All is but vanity - sayeth the Preacher - all is but plain vanity.

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."

The Emphasized Bible

Vanity of vanities! saith the Proclaimer, vanity of vanities! all, is vanity.

Webster

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."

Youngs Literal Translation

Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole is vanity.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73

הבל הבל 
hebel 
הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73
Usage: 73

the Preacher
קהלת 
Qoheleth 
Usage: 7

הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73

Devotionals

Devotionals containing Ecclesiastes 1:2

References

Images Ecclesiastes 1:2

Prayers for Ecclesiastes 1:2

Context Readings

Motto Introduced

1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.
“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”
3 What does a man gain for all his efforts
that he labors at under the sun?


Cross References

Ecclesiastes 12:8

“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”

Romans 8:20

For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope

Psalm 39:5-6

You, indeed, have made my days short in length,
and my life span as nothing in Your sight.
Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor.Selah

Psalm 144:4

Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.

Psalm 62:9-10

Men are only a vapor;
exalted men, an illusion.
Weighed in the scales, they go up;
together they are less than a vapor.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15

So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” And I said to myself that this is also futile.

Ecclesiastes 2:17

Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

When there is a man whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:19

For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man’s jealousy of his friend. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. “So who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself from good?” This too is futile and a miserable task.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man?

Ecclesiastes 11:8

Indeed, if a man lives many years,
let him rejoice in them all,
and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many.
All that comes is futile.

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Remove sorrow from your heart,
and put away pain from your flesh,
because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain