All Is Vanity 1The words of the Preacher,a the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2Vanityb of vanities, says the Preacher, The Vanity of Wisdom 12I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I applied my heartf to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanityg and a striving after wind.h 15What is crooked cannot be made straight, 16I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. 18For in much wisdom is much vexation, Footnotes: a 1 Or Convener, or Collector; Hebrew Qoheleth (so throughout Ecclesiastes) b 2 The Hebrew term hebel, translated vanity or vain, refers concretely to a "mist," "vapor," or "mere breath," and metaphorically to something that is fleeting or elusive (with different nuances depending on the context). It appears five times in this verse and in 29 other verses in Ecclesiastes c 5 Or and returns panting d 11 Or former people e 11 Or later people f 13 The Hebrew term denotes the center of one's inner life, including mind, will, and emotions g 14 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a "vapor" or "mere breath" (see note on 1:2) h 14 Or a feeding on wind; compare Hosea 12:1 (also in Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9) ESV Text Edition® (2016). The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Bible Apps |