Behold, the Lamb of God

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, (A)the Lamb of God, who (B)takes away the sin (C)of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, (D)‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but (E)for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John (F)bore witness: (G)“I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and (H)it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but (I)he who sent me to baptize (J)with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, (K)this is he who baptizes (L)with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[a] of God.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 1:34 Some manuscripts the Chosen One

John Testifies About Jesus

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,(A) who takes away the sin of the world!(B) 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’(C) 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.(D) 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water(E) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’(F) 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[a](G)

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Footnotes

  1. John 1:34 See Isaiah 42:1; many manuscripts is the Son of God.

17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for (A)all is vanity and a striving after wind.

The Vanity of Toil

18 I hated (B)all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must (C)leave it to the man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? 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 (D)turned about and gave my heart up to despair (E)over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 What has a man from (F)all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For (G)all his days are full of sorrow, and his (H)work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

24 (I)There is nothing better for a person than that he should (J)eat and drink and find enjoyment[a] in his toil. This also, I saw, is (K)from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him[b] who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him (L)God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given (M)the business of gathering and collecting, (N)only to give to one who pleases God. (O)This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:24 Or and make his soul see good
  2. Ecclesiastes 2:25 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts apart from me

Toil Is Meaningless

17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(A) 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.(B) 19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish?(C) 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?(D) 23 All their days their work is grief and pain;(E) even at night their minds do not rest.(F) This too is meaningless.

24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink(G) and find satisfaction in their own toil.(H) This too, I see, is from the hand of God,(I) 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?(J) 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom,(K) knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth(L) to hand it over to the one who pleases God.(M) This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

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