Ecclesiastes 1:2

“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.
“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”

Ecclesiastes 12:8

“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”

Romans 8:20

For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope

Psalm 39:5-6

You, indeed, have made my days short in length,
and my life span as nothing in Your sight.
Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor.Selah

Psalm 144:4

Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.

Psalm 62:9-10

Men are only a vapor;
exalted men, an illusion.
Weighed in the scales, they go up;
together they are less than a vapor.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15

So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” And I said to myself that this is also futile.

Ecclesiastes 2:17

Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

When there is a man whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:19

For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man’s jealousy of his friend. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. “So who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself from good?” This too is futile and a miserable task.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man?

Ecclesiastes 11:8

Indeed, if a man lives many years,
let him rejoice in them all,
and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many.
All that comes is futile.

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Remove sorrow from your heart,
and put away pain from your flesh,
because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Ecclesiastes 1:2

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

General references

Bible References