Ecclesiastes 2:11

Translations

Modern

Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And I turned to all the works that my hands had done, and to the toil that I had toiled to do, and behold—all was vapor and a striving after the wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

Latin

Cumque me convertissem ad universa opera quæ fecerant manus meæ, et ad labores in quibus frustra sudaveram, vidi in omnibus vanitatem et afflictionem animi, et nihil permanere sub sole.

Original

Hebrew

English

Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Notes

Ecclesiastes 2:11

futile...nothing to be gained: Accomplishments may lead to hopelessness and discouragement because they lack lasting meaning (Ecclesiastes 2:18–23).

Ecclesiastes 2:1–11

The Teacher says seeking pleasure for its own sake is empty. Even great achievements are like smoke.

Ecclesiastes 1:12–2:26

The Teacher examines how wisdom, work, and pleasure relate to each other.

Theme notes and profiles

Human Sexuality

Related verses

Ecclesiastes 1:14
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.
1 John 2:16–17
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.
Ecclesiastes 1:3
What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?
1 Timothy 6:6
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
Genesis 1:31
And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Exodus 39:43
And Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had accomplished it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.
Habakkuk 2:13
Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts that the labor of the people only feeds the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain?
Ecclesiastes 2:17–23
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Glossary

Book of Ecclesiastes Futility Sun

Topics

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Vain Gold: Vanity of Heaping Up Industry: General Scriptures Concerning Investigation: General Scriptures Concerning Joy: Vanity of Seeking, from Earthly Things Music: Vanity of all Unsanctified Pleasure: Worldly Vanity: Worldly Enjoyment Is Vanity: Worldly Labor Is Vanity: Worldly Labour Is Vanity: Worldly Possessions Are Wine: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Wisdom: Worldly Worldliness: General Scriptures Concerning Worldly Amusements and Pleasures are all Vanity

Ecclesiastes 2:11

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