Ecclesiastes 1:2–4
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — The New International Version (NIV)
2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”
3 What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
4 Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — English Standard Version (ESV)
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — New Living Translation (NLT)
2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
3 What profit has a man from all his labor
In which he toils under the sun?
4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes;
But the earth abides forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — New Century Version (NCV)
2 The Teacher says,
“Useless! Useless!
Completely useless!
Everything is useless.”
3 What do people really gain
from all the hard work they do here on earth?
4 People live, and people die,
but the earth continues forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — American Standard Version (ASV)
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. 3 What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun? 4 One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities! all is vanity. 3 What profit hath man of all his labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh, but the earth standeth for ever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
2 “Absolutely pointless!” says the spokesman. “Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless.”
3 What do people gain from all their hard work under the sun?
4 Generations come, and generations go,
but the earth lasts forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.
“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”
3 What does a man gain for all his efforts
that he labors at under the sun?
4 A generation goes and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What do people gain from all the toil
at which they toil under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
2 “Vanity of vanities!” says the Teacher,
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!”
3 What does a person gain in all his toil
with which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth stands forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
2 “Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Everything is completely meaningless!
Nothing has any meaning.”
3 What does a man get for all of his work?
Why does he work so hard on this earth?
4 People come and people go.
But the earth remains forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
3 What advantage does man have in all his work
Which he does under the sun?
4 A generation goes and a generation comes,
But the earth remains forever.