KJV King James Version
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.
WEB World English Bible
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
ASV American Standard Version
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit!
Surrounding context — Ecclesiastes 1
11 [There is] no remembrance of former [things]; neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [those] that shall come after.
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
15 [That which is] crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
רָאִ֙יתִי֙H7200 · ra.ahto see: seeאֶת־H853 · et[Obj.]כָּל־H3605 · kolallהַֽמַּעֲשִׂ֔יםH4639 · ma.a.sehdeed: workשֶֽׁנַּעֲשׂ֖וּH6213 · a.sahto make: doתַּ֣חַתH8478 · ta.chatunderneath: underהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁH8121 · she.meshsunוְהִנֵּ֥הH2009 · hin.nehbeholdהַכֹּ֛לH3605 · kolallהֶ֖בֶלH1892 · he.velvanityוּרְע֥וּתH7469 · re.utlongingרֽוּחַ׃H7307 · ru.achspirit
Cross-references
Ecclesiastes 2:11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun.Ecclesiastes 2:26For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.Ecclesiastes 2:17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.Ecclesiastes 6:9Better [is] the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.Ecclesiastes 4:4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.Ecclesiastes 1:17-18And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.Psalm 39:5-6Behold, thou hast made my days [as] an handbreadth; and mine age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether vanity. Selah.1 Kings 4:30-32And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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