Logos Bible Study

Ecclesiastes 1:2–3

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The Theme

2“Absolutely pointless!” says the spokesman. “Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless.” 

Life Is an Endless Circle

3What do people gain from all their hard work under the sun? 

Read in Logos

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,

vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

What does man gain by all the toil

at which he toils under the sun?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”

says the Teacher.

“Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless.”

What do people gain from all their labors

at which they toil under the sun?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.

“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”

What does a person gain for all his efforts

that he labors at under the sun?

NLTNew Living Translation

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”

What do people get for all their hard work under the sun?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Vanity of vanities!” says the Teacher,

“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!”

What does a person gain in all his toil

with which he toils under the sun?

KJV 1900King James Version

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?