36 Bible Verses about Vanity

Yet my people have forgotten me and offered sacrifices to worthless idols! This makes them stumble along in the way they live and leave the old reliable path of their fathers. They have left them to walk in bypaths, in roads that are not smooth and level.

People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears.

O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called "knowledge."

But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,

Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.

Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.

I hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord.

The people of those nations are both stupid and foolish. Instruction from a wooden idol is worthless!

Yet my people have forgotten me and offered sacrifices to worthless idols! This makes them stumble along in the way they live and leave the old reliable path of their fathers. They have left them to walk in bypaths, in roads that are not smooth and level.

They rejected his rules, the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and the laws he had commanded them to obey. They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to the Lord. They copied the practices of the surrounding nations in blatant disregard of the Lord's command.

All who form idols are nothing; the things in which they delight are worthless. Their witnesses cannot see; they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame. Who forms a god and casts an idol that will prove worthless?

This happened because the Israelites sinned against the Lord their God, who brought them up from the land of Egypt and freed them from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods; they observed the practices of the nations whom the Lord had driven out from before Israel, and followed the example of the kings of Israel. The Israelites said things about the Lord their God that were not right. They built high places in all their cities, from the watchtower to the fortress. read more.
They set up sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. They burned incense on all the high places just like the nations whom the Lord had driven away from before them. Their evil practices made the Lord angry. They worshiped the disgusting idols in blatant disregard of the Lord's command. The Lord solemnly warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and all the seers, "Turn back from your evil ways; obey my commandments and rules that are recorded in the law. I ordered your ancestors to keep this law and sent my servants the prophets to remind you of its demands." But they did not pay attention and were as stubborn as their ancestors, who had not trusted the Lord their God. They rejected his rules, the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and the laws he had commanded them to obey. They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to the Lord. They copied the practices of the surrounding nations in blatant disregard of the Lord's command. They abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and worshiped Baal. They passed their sons and daughters through the fire, and practiced divination and omen reading. They committed themselves to doing evil in the sight of the Lord and made him angry. So the Lord was furious with Israel and rejected them; only the tribe of Judah was left. Judah also failed to keep the commandments of the Lord their God; they followed Israel's example. So the Lord rejected all of Israel's descendants; he humiliated them and handed them over to robbers, until he had thrown them from his presence. He tore Israel away from David's dynasty, and Jeroboam son of Nebat became their king. Jeroboam drove Israel away from the Lord and encouraged them to commit a serious sin. The Israelites followed in the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and did not repudiate them. Finally the Lord rejected Israel just as he had warned he would do through all his servants the prophets. Israel was deported from its land to Assyria and remains there to this very day.

Let him not trust in what is worthless, deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward.

Therefore, the Lord says, "Ask the people of other nations whether they have heard of anything like this. Israel should have been like a virgin. But she has done something utterly revolting! Does the snow ever completely vanish from the rocky slopes of Lebanon? Do the cool waters from those distant mountains ever cease to flow? Yet my people have forgotten me and offered sacrifices to worthless idols! This makes them stumble along in the way they live and leave the old reliable path of their fathers. They have left them to walk in bypaths, in roads that are not smooth and level. read more.
So their land will become an object of horror. People will forever hiss out their scorn over it. All who pass that way will be filled with horror and will shake their heads in derision. I will scatter them before their enemies like dust blowing in front of a burning east wind. I will turn my back on them and not look favorably on them when disaster strikes them."

O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called "knowledge."

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty.

But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,

Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.

Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.

For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth -- only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile -- like chasing the wind!

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is futile and a burdensome task!

His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys.

People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.

When someone comes to visit, he pretends to be friendly; he thinks of ways to defame me, and when he leaves he slanders me.

who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather, 'Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things?

For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.

Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?

So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. read more.
For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

Give us help against the enemy, for any help men might offer is futile.

(Ayin) Our eyes continually failed us as we looked in vain for help. From our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not rescue us.

My people will sow wheat, but will harvest weeds. They will work until they are exhausted, but will get nothing from it. They will be disappointed in their harvests because the Lord will take them away in his fierce anger.

The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will end.

Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your word!

Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread,

For "physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come."

Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them.

For no one knows what is best for a person during his life -- during the few days of his fleeting life -- for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

I loathe it; I do not want to live forever; leave me alone, for my days are a vapor!

Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away."

So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

"Can you discover the essence of God? Can you find out the perfection of the Almighty? It is higher than the heavens -- what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol -- what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. read more.
If he comes by and confines you and convenes a court, then who can prevent him? For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it? But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being.

But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.

When you cry out for help, let your idols help you! The wind blows them all away, a breeze carries them away. But the one who looks to me for help will inherit the land and will have access to my holy mountain."

So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror.

who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather, 'Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things?

For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.

Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?

When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard.

Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?'

You have said, 'It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all?

Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air.

You severely discipline people for their sins; like a moth you slowly devour their strength. Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)

When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel he said to them, "Keep in mind all the words I am solemnly proclaiming to you today; you must command your children to observe carefully all the words of this law. For this is no idle word for you -- it is your life! By this word you will live a long time in the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess."

And again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

So I thought to myself, "The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So I lamented to myself, "The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!"

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?'

You have said, 'It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all?

His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys.

People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.

When someone comes to visit, he pretends to be friendly; he thinks of ways to defame me, and when he leaves he slanders me.

When you cry out for help, let your idols help you! The wind blows them all away, a breeze carries them away. But the one who looks to me for help will inherit the land and will have access to my holy mountain."

So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror.

My people will sow wheat, but will harvest weeds. They will work until they are exhausted, but will get nothing from it. They will be disappointed in their harvests because the Lord will take them away in his fierce anger.

The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will end.

You severely discipline people for their sins; like a moth you slowly devour their strength. Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)

Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.

Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your word!

Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread,

If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.

Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away."

So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort. Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: "All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless -- like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth."

I thought to myself, "Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile." But I found that it also is futile.

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

God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor -- instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

Then I said, "Lord, you give me strength and protect me. You are the one I can run to for safety when I am in trouble. Nations from all over the earth will come to you and say, 'Our ancestors had nothing but false gods -- worthless idols that could not help them at all.

For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility -- not willingly but because of God who subjected it -- in hope read more.
that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God's children.

Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away."

It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, he can provide for those whom he loves even when they sleep.

Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.

The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.

Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.

The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks wisdom.

I, the Lord, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who dream up lies and report them. They are misleading my people with their reckless lies. I did not send them. I did not commission them. They are not helping these people at all. I, the Lord, affirm it!"

(Samek) I hate people with divided loyalties, but I love your law.

The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will end.

Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from mortal danger.

For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.

This is what the Lord says: "What fault could your ancestors have possibly found in me that they strayed so far from me? They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to me.

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: "All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless -- like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth."

Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless -- like chasing the wind.

You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed -- not by perishable things like silver or gold,

For the creation was subjected to futility -- not willingly but because of God who subjected it -- in hope

People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears.

You severely discipline people for their sins; like a moth you slowly devour their strength. Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)

He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil.

I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest.

The one whose deeds are blameless and whose motives are pure, who does not lie, or make promises with no intention of keeping them.

(Samek) I hate people with divided loyalties, but I love your law.

Look, you make my days short-lived, and my life span is nothing from your perspective. Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.

If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?

Then I said, "Lord, you give me strength and protect me. You are the one I can run to for safety when I am in trouble. Nations from all over the earth will come to you and say, 'Our ancestors had nothing but false gods -- worthless idols that could not help them at all.

But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being.

For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it?

But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being.

For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it?

You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? (Selah)

Surely it is an empty cry -- God does not hear it; the Almighty does not take notice of it.

I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you.

I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees. read more.
I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock -- both herds and flocks -- than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem. I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight -- a harem of beautiful concubines! So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity: I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort. Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: "All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless -- like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth."

Let him not trust in what is worthless, deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward.

For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.

If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.

The Lord knows that peoples' thoughts are morally bankrupt.

People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears.

You severely discipline people for their sins; like a moth you slowly devour their strength. Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)

This is what the Lord says: "What fault could your ancestors have possibly found in me that they strayed so far from me? They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to me.

He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil.

Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death.

Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air.

The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.

"'But just look at you! You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you.

You have been taught that the Lord alone is God -- there is no other besides him.

I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest.

The one whose deeds are blameless and whose motives are pure, who does not lie, or make promises with no intention of keeping them.

You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? (Selah)

I thought to myself, "Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile." But I found that it also is futile.