I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
- BSB I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.
- NKJV I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
- NASB I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is futility and striving after wind.
- NLT I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Having surveyed all human works, he concludes they are vanity and 'a chasing after wind.' Earthly endeavors cannot be grasped or held, like trying to catch the wind.
Overview
The memorable image of chasing wind captures the elusiveness of meaning found in human achievement. Qoheleth's verdict is comprehensive: everything done 'under the sun' fails to deliver lasting profit. This sober realism is not despair but a summons to look upward, finding in God the substance that earthly striving lacks.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Eccl 2:11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
- Eccl 2:26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Eccl 2:17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Eccl 6:9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Eccl 1:17–18And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
- Ps 39:5–6Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
- Eccl 4:4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
- 1 Kgs 4:30–32And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 1:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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