Ecclesiastes 1:2

What does Ecclesiastes 1:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 1:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole <FI>is<Fi> vanity.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

v.1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

v.2This passage

v.3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:19

    For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

  • Psalms 144:4

    Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:17

    So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:21

    For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:8

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

  • Ecclesiastes 11:10

    Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

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