Ecclesiastes 2:11,15,17,19,21,23,26

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Ecclesiastes 2:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Then I considered all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun. [Matt 16:26]

Ecclesiastes 2:15 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Then I said to myself, “As it happens to the fool, so death will also happen to me. What use is it then for me to be extremely wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This too is vanity (meaningless).”

Ecclesiastes 2:17 Amplified Bible (AMP)

So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 Amplified Bible (AMP)

And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity (futility, self-conceit).

Ecclesiastes 2:21 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For there is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, yet gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it. This too is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For all his days his work is painful and sorrowful; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity (worthless).

Ecclesiastes 2:26 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 The Message (MSG)

Then I took a good look at everything I’d done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.

Ecclesiastes 2:15-16 The Message (MSG)

When I realized that my fate’s the same as the fool’s, I had to ask myself, “So why bother being wise?” It’s all smoke, nothing but smoke. The smart and the stupid both disappear out of sight. In a day or two they’re both forgotten. Yes, both the smart and the stupid die, and that’s it.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 The Message (MSG)

I hate life. As far as I can see, what happens on earth is a bad business. It’s smoke—and spitting into the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 The Message (MSG)

And I hated everything I’d accomplished and accumulated on this earth. I can’t take it with me—no, I have to leave it to whoever comes after me. Whether they’re worthy or worthless—and who’s to tell?—they’ll take over the earthly results of my intense thinking and hard work. Smoke.

Ecclesiastes 2:20-23 The Message (MSG)

That’s when I called it quits, gave up on anything that could be hoped for on this earth. What’s the point of working your fingers to the bone if you hand over what you worked for to someone who never lifted a finger for it? Smoke, that’s what it is. A bad business from start to finish. So what do you get from a life of hard labor? Pain and grief from dawn to dusk. Never a decent night’s rest. Nothing but smoke.

Ecclesiastes 2:20-23 The Message (MSG)

That’s when I called it quits, gave up on anything that could be hoped for on this earth. What’s the point of working your fingers to the bone if you hand over what you worked for to someone who never lifted a finger for it? Smoke, that’s what it is. A bad business from start to finish. So what do you get from a life of hard labor? Pain and grief from dawn to dusk. Never a decent night’s rest. Nothing but smoke.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 The Message (MSG)

The best you can do with your life is have a good time and get by the best you can. The way I see it, that’s it—divine fate. Whether we feast or fast, it’s up to God. God may give wisdom and knowledge and joy to his favorites, but sinners are assigned a life of hard labor, and end up turning their wages over to God’s favorites. Nothing but smoke—and spitting into the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 King James Version (KJV)

Then 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 2:15 King James Version (KJV)

Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 King James Version (KJV)

Therefore 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 2:19 King James Version (KJV)

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 King James Version (KJV)

For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 King James Version (KJV)

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 King James Version (KJV)

For 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 2:11 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

Then I said to myself, “As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?” So I said to myself, “This too is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 2:17 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 New Century Version (NCV)

But then I looked at what I had done, and I thought about all the hard work. Suddenly I realized it was useless, like chasing the wind. There is nothing to gain from anything we do here on earth.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 New Century Version (NCV)

I thought to myself, “What happens to a fool will happen to me, too, so what is the reward for being wise?” I said to myself, “Being wise is also useless.”

Ecclesiastes 2:17 New Century Version (NCV)

So I hated life. It made me sad to think that everything here on earth is useless, like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 New Century Version (NCV)

Someone else will control everything for which I worked so hard here on earth, and I don’t know if he will be wise or foolish. This is also useless.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 New Century Version (NCV)

People can work hard using all their wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but they will die, and other people will get the things for which they worked. They did not do the work, but they will get everything. This is also unfair and useless.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 New Century Version (NCV)

All of their lives their work is full of pain and sorrow, and even at night their minds don’t rest. This is also useless.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 New Century Version (NCV)

If people please God, God will give them wisdom, knowledge, and joy. But sinners will get only the work of gathering and storing wealth that they will have to give to the ones who please God. So all their work is useless, like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 American Standard Version (ASV)

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 American Standard Version (ASV)

Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 American Standard Version (ASV)

So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 American Standard Version (ASV)

And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 American Standard Version (ASV)

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 American Standard Version (ASV)

For all his days are but sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 American Standard Version (ASV)

For to the man that pleaseth him God giveth 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 pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 New International Version (NIV)

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 New International Version (NIV)

Then I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “This too is meaningless.”

Ecclesiastes 2:17 New International Version (NIV)

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 New International Version (NIV)

And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 New International Version (NIV)

For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 New International Version (NIV)

All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 New International Version (NIV)

To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 New King James Version (NKJV)

So I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This also is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 2:17 New King James Version (NKJV)

Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 New King James Version (NKJV)

And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 New King James Version (NKJV)

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 New King James Version (NKJV)

For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 New King James Version (NKJV)

For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Then I considered all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun. [Matt 16:26]

Ecclesiastes 2:15 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Then I said to myself, “As it happens to the fool, so death will also happen to me. What use is it then for me to be extremely wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This too is vanity (meaningless).”

Ecclesiastes 2:17 Amplified Bible (AMP)

So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 Amplified Bible (AMP)

And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity (futility, self-conceit).

Ecclesiastes 2:21 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For there is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, yet gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it. This too is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For all his days his work is painful and sorrowful; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity (worthless).

Ecclesiastes 2:26 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 New Living Translation (NLT)

But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 New Living Translation (NLT)

Both will die. So I said to myself, “Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!”

Ecclesiastes 2:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 New Living Translation (NLT)

And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless!

Ecclesiastes 2:21 New Living Translation (NLT)

Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 New Living Translation (NLT)

Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 New Living Translation (NLT)

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)

Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)

So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)

and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)

because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)

For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)

For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.