² Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. ³ What profit has man from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? ⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes, but the earth abides forever.

Phrases

On Earth

Under the Sun

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 2:11

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

Ecclesiastes 3:9

What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?

Ecclesiastes 5:16

And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he that he labored for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 2:22

For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart in which he labors under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 2:19

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

Ecclesiastes 5:18

Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be fitting is [for a man] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor in which he labors under the sun all the days of his life which God has given him, for this is his p

Ecclesiastes 6:12

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 7:11

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

Ecclesiastes 8:15-17

Then I commended joy, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be cheerful. For that shall abide with him in his labor [all] the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.

Ecclesiastes 9:6

As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, has perished long ago, nor have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:13

I have also seen wisdom under the sun this way, and it seemed great to me:

Isaiah 55:2

Why do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Habakkuk 2:13

Behold, is it not of LORD of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?

Habakkuk 2:18

What profits the graven image, that the maker of it has engraved it, the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions its form trusts in it, to make dumb idols?

Matthew 16:26

For what does it profit a men, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:36-37

For what will it profit a man if he should gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

John 6:27

Work not for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you, for God the Father put a seal on this man.