Parallel Verses

World English Bible

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

New American Standard Bible

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

King James Version

Vanity of vanities, saith 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.

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," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." 3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?


Cross References

Ecclesiastes 12:8

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

Romans 8:20

For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

Psalm 39:5-6

Behold, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath." Selah.

Psalm 144:4

Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.

Psalm 62:9-10

Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15

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

Ecclesiastes 2:17

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

Ecclesiastes 2:19

Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

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

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:19

For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. "For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?" This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was -- yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

Ecclesiastes 11:8

Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life 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