Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Instruction » From nature
I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun. {I saw the tears of the oppressed-- no one comforts them! Those who oppress them are powerful-- no one can comfort them}!
I passed by the field of a lazy person, and over the vineyard of a person lacking {sense}; and behold, it was overgrown--all of it was covered [with] thorns, its surface with nettles, and {its stone wall} was broken down. Then I myself saw and my heart considered; I looked, and I took hold of instruction: read more.
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands for rest, and your poverty will come running, and your lack like an armed warrior.
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands for rest, and your poverty will come running, and your lack like an armed warrior.
I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. It [is] a grievous task God has given to {humans}. I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind. What is twisted cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted. read more.
{I said to myself}, "Look! I have become great and have increased [in] wisdom more than anyone who {has preceded} me over Jerusalem. {I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge}." So {I dedicated myself} to learn about wisdom and [to] learn about delusion and folly. However, I discovered that this also [is] chasing wind. For in much wisdom [is] much frustration, and whoever increases knowledge increases sorrow.
{I said to myself}, "Look! I have become great and have increased [in] wisdom more than anyone who {has preceded} me over Jerusalem. {I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge}." So {I dedicated myself} to learn about wisdom and [to] learn about delusion and folly. However, I discovered that this also [is] chasing wind. For in much wisdom [is] much frustration, and whoever increases knowledge increases sorrow.
"For this [reason] I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, and not for your body, what you will wear. Is your life not more than food and your body [more than] clothing? Consider the birds of the sky, that they do not sow or reap or gather [produce] into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they [are]? And who among you, [by] being anxious, is able to add one hour to his life span? read more.
And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, [although it] is [here] today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not [do so] much more [for] you, you of little faith?
And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, [although it] is [here] today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not [do so] much more [for] you, you of little faith?
Labour » fields of activity » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Yet when I considered all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, "Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!"
Why do you weigh out money for [what is] not food, and your labor for {what cannot satisfy}? Listen carefully to me, and eat [what is] good, and let your soul take pleasure in {rich} food.
Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. [He laments,] "For whom am I toiling and depriving {myself} of pleasure?" This also [is] vanity--it is an unhappy business!
Do not work for the food that perishes, but the food that remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has set his seal on this one."
I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind.
This also [is] a grievous illness. Exactly as he came, so he will go. What profit [does] he gain for all his toil for the wind?
Look! [Is it] not from Yahweh of hosts that people labor for mere fire, and nations exhaust themselves for mere vanity?
Science » Observations of, and deductions from, facts
He stretches out [the] north over emptiness; [he] hangs [the] earth {over nothing}. [He] ties up [the] water in its clouds, and [the] cloud is not torn open beneath it. [He] covers [the] face of [the] full moon; [he] spreads his cloud over it. read more.
{He has described a circle} on [the] face of [the] water {between light and darkness}. "[The] pillars of heaven tremble, and they are astounded at his rebuke. By his power he stilled the sea, and by his understanding he struck down Rahab. By his breath {the heavens were made clear}; his hand pierced [the] fleeing snake. Look, these [are] the outer fringes of his ways, and {how faint is the word} [that] we hear of him! But who can understand the thunder of his power?"
{He has described a circle} on [the] face of [the] water {between light and darkness}. "[The] pillars of heaven tremble, and they are astounded at his rebuke. By his power he stilled the sea, and by his understanding he struck down Rahab. By his breath {the heavens were made clear}; his hand pierced [the] fleeing snake. Look, these [are] the outer fringes of his ways, and {how faint is the word} [that] we hear of him! But who can understand the thunder of his power?"
I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. It [is] a grievous task God has given to {humans}. I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind. What is twisted cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted. read more.
{I said to myself}, "Look! I have become great and have increased [in] wisdom more than anyone who {has preceded} me over Jerusalem. {I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge}." So {I dedicated myself} to learn about wisdom and [to] learn about delusion and folly. However, I discovered that this also [is] chasing wind.
{I said to myself}, "Look! I have become great and have increased [in] wisdom more than anyone who {has preceded} me over Jerusalem. {I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge}." So {I dedicated myself} to learn about wisdom and [to] learn about delusion and folly. However, I discovered that this also [is] chasing wind.
Toil » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Yet when I considered all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, "Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!"
Why do you weigh out money for [what is] not food, and your labor for {what cannot satisfy}? Listen carefully to me, and eat [what is] good, and let your soul take pleasure in {rich} food.
Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. [He laments,] "For whom am I toiling and depriving {myself} of pleasure?" This also [is] vanity--it is an unhappy business!
Do not work for the food that perishes, but the food that remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has set his seal on this one."
I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind.
This also [is] a grievous illness. Exactly as he came, so he will go. What profit [does] he gain for all his toil for the wind?
Look! [Is it] not from Yahweh of hosts that people labor for mere fire, and nations exhaust themselves for mere vanity?
Worldly » Labour » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Yet when I considered all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, "Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!"
Why do you weigh out money for [what is] not food, and your labor for {what cannot satisfy}? Listen carefully to me, and eat [what is] good, and let your soul take pleasure in {rich} food.
Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. [He laments,] "For whom am I toiling and depriving {myself} of pleasure?" This also [is] vanity--it is an unhappy business!
Do not work for the food that perishes, but the food that remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has set his seal on this one."
I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind.
This also [is] a grievous illness. Exactly as he came, so he will go. What profit [does] he gain for all his toil for the wind?
Look! [Is it] not from Yahweh of hosts that people labor for mere fire, and nations exhaust themselves for mere vanity?