serves as a marker of a state or condition [LN (13.8)] or it serves as a marker of the manner in which an event occurs [LN (89.84)]. e. ματαιότης (LN 65.37) (BAGD p. 495): ‘futility’ [AB, BAGD, LN, NIC, NTC, WBC; NASB, NIV, NRSV], ‘vanity’ [El, Lns, Rob, We; KJV] ‘emptiness, purposelessness’ [BAGD]. This noun is also translated as an adjective: ‘empty’ [LN; NAB], ‘worthless’ [TEV], ‘futile’ [BAGD, LN; REB], ‘useless’ [LN], ‘empty’ [NJB, TNT]. This noun suggests either absence of purpose or the failure