33 Bible Verses about Useless Endeavour

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

"Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Everything is pointless."

For what happens to people also happens to animals a single event happens to them: just as someone dies, so does the other. In fact, they all breathe the same way, so that a human being has no superiority over an animal. All of this is pointless.

Even if a person lives many years, let him enjoy them all, recalling that there will be many days of darkness to come all of which are pointless.

I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless like chasing after the wind.

So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and knowledge, and about insanity and foolishness. And I discovered that this is also like chasing after the wind.

Then I examined all of my accomplishments that I had brought about by my own efforts, including the work that I had labored so hard to complete and it was all pointless, like chasing after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained on earth.

So I hated life, because whatever is done on earth causes me trouble it's all pointless, like chasing after the wind.

After all, to the person who is good in God's sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner he gives the troublesome task of acquiring and accumulating in order to leave it to someone who is good in the sight of God. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

There was no end to all of his subjects or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind.

It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind.

I told myself, "I will test you with pleasure, so enjoy yourself." But this was pointless.

Then I told myself, "Whatever happens to the fool will happen also to me. Therefore what's the point in being so wise?" And I told myself that this also is pointless.

And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he will take possession of everything that I have done on earth, especially where I have excelled. This also is pointless.

For sometimes people who strive to obtain wisdom, knowledge, and equity leave everything as an inheritance to a person who never worked for it. This, too, is pointless and greatly troublesome.

Indeed, all of his days are filled with sorrow, and his struggles bring grief. In fact, his mind remains restless throughout the night. This is pointless, too!

Consider someone who is alone, having neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his work, and he is never satisfied with wealth. "So for whom do I work," he asks, "and deprive myself of pleasure?" This, too, is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

Whoever loves money will never have enough money. Whoever loves luxury will not be content with abundance. This also is pointless.

a man to whom God gives wealth, riches, and honor, so that he lacks none of his heart's desires but God does not give him the capability to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger consumes them. This is pointless and a grievous affliction.

For as thorns burn to heat a pot, so also is the laughter of the fool even this is pointless.

So I watched the wicked being entombed. They used to come in and out of the Holy Place, but now they are forgotten in the city, where they used to work. This, too, is pointless.

Here is a pointless thing that happens on earth: A righteous man receives what happens to the wicked, and a wicked man receives what happens to the righteous. I concluded that this, too, is pointless.

Then I turned to re-examine something else that is pointless on earth:

because the creation has become subject to futility, though not by anything it did. The one who subjected it did so in the certainty

They rejected the LORD's statutes, the covenant that he had made with their ancestors, and his warnings that he gave them. They pursued meaninglessness and became meaningless themselves as they followed the lifestyles of the nations that surrounded them, a practice that the LORD had warned them not to do.

Whoever tills his soil will have a lot to eat, but anyone who pursues fantasies lacks sense.

So he made their days end in futility, and their years with sudden terror.

Truly I've been allotted months of emptiness; nights of trouble have been appointed for me.

Let him not trust in a worthless speech. He leads only himself astray, for emptiness will be his reward.

For you know that it was not with perishable things like silver or gold that you have been ransomed from the worthless way of life handed down to you by your ancestors,

Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

But the unfaithful heirs of that kingdom will be thrown into the darkness outside. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."