Ecclesiastes 1:2
Contemporary English Version
2 Nothing makes sense!
Everything is nonsense.
I have seen it all—
nothing makes sense!
Ecclesiastes 1:2
New International Version
2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”(A)
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14
Contemporary English Version
It Is Senseless To Be Wise
12 I said these things when I lived in Jerusalem as king of Israel. 13 With all my wisdom I tried to understand everything that happens here on earth. And God has made this so hard for us humans to do. 14 I have seen it all, and everything is just as senseless as chasing the wind.[a]
Read full chapterNotas al pie
- 1.14 chasing the wind: Or “eating the wind.”
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
Contemporary English Version
18 Suddenly I realized that others would someday get everything I had worked for so hard, then I started hating it all. 19 Who knows if those people will be sensible or stupid? Either way, they will own everything I have earned by hard work and wisdom. It doesn't make sense.
20 I thought about all my hard work, and I felt depressed. 21 When we use our wisdom, knowledge, and skill to get what we own, why do we have to leave it to someone who didn't work for it? This is senseless and wrong. 22 What do we really gain from all of our hard work? 23 (A) Our bodies ache during the day, and work is torture. Then at night our thoughts are troubled. It just doesn't make sense.
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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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