Parallel Verses

King James Version

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

New American Standard Bible

Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

Holman Bible

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

International Standard Version

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

A Conservative Version

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

American Standard Version

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

Amplified


“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher.
“Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”

Bible in Basic English

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

Darby Translation

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

Julia Smith Translation

Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; vanity of vanities, all vanity.

King James 2000

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

Lexham Expanded Bible

"Vanity of vanities!" says the Teacher, "Vanity of vanities! All [is] vanity!"

Modern King James verseion

Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

All is but vanity - sayeth the Preacher - all is but plain vanity.

NET Bible

"Futile! Futile!" laments the Teacher, "Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!"

New Heart English Bible

"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

The Emphasized Bible

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

Webster

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

World English Bible

"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

Youngs Literal Translation

Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole is vanity.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73

הבל הבל 
hebel 
הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73
Usage: 73

the Preacher
קהלת 
Qoheleth 
Usage: 7

הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73

Devotionals

Devotionals containing Ecclesiastes 1:2

References

Images Ecclesiastes 1:2

Prayers for Ecclesiastes 1:2

Context Readings

Motto Introduced

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?


Cross References

Ecclesiastes 12:8

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

Romans 8:20

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Psalm 39:5-6

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Psalm 144:4

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

Psalm 62:9-10

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15

Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:17

Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

Ecclesiastes 11:8

But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

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Word Concordance

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain