Ecclesiastes 1:2
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“Vanity of vanities,” saith the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”
Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities! All is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and vainglory).
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”
Perfectly pointless, says the Teacher, perfectly pointless. Everything is pointless.
Pointless! Pointless! — says Kohelet — Utterly meaningless! Nothing matters!
Nothing makes sense! Everything is nonsense. I have seen it all— nothing makes sense!
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities! all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.
Everything is so meaningless. The Teacher says that it is all a waste of time!
The Teacher says, ‘Nothing has a purpose. Nothing that ever happens has a purpose.’
“Nothing but vapor,” Ecclesiastes said. “Totally vapor. Everything is just vapor that vanishes.”
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
The ·Teacher [or Preacher; L Assembler; 1:1] says, “·Useless [Meaningless; or Absurd; or Enigmatic; or Transient; T Vanity; L Vapor; Bubble; C and so throughout this book]! Useless! Completely useless! Everything is useless.”
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher: vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
“Absolutely pointless!” says the spokesman. “Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless.”
It is useless, useless, said the Philosopher. Life is useless, all useless.
“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”
The Teacher says, “Useless! Useless! Completely useless! All things are useless.”
“Utterly pointless,” says the Teacher. “Absolutely pointless; everything is pointless.”
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
“Vanity of vanities!” says the Teacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!”
In my opinion, nothing is worthwhile; everything is futile.
Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Quester says.] There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke. What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone? One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes—it’s business as usual for old planet earth. The sun comes up and the sun goes down, then does it again, and again—the same old round. The wind blows south, the wind blows north. Around and around and around it blows, blowing this way, then that—the whirling, erratic wind. All the rivers flow into the sea, but the sea never fills up. The rivers keep flowing to the same old place, and then start all over and do it again. Everything’s boring, utterly boring— no one can find any meaning in it. Boring to the eye, boring to the ear. What was will be again, what happened will happen again. There’s nothing new on this earth. Year after year it’s the same old thing. Does someone call out, “Hey, this is new”? Don’t get excited—it’s the same old story. Nobody remembers what happened yesterday. And the things that will happen tomorrow? Nobody’ll remember them either. Don’t count on being remembered.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
“Absolutely pointless!” says the spokesman. “Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless.”
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
“Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “Futility of futilities! All is futility.”
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! Everything is vanity.
The Teacher says, “Useless! Useless! Completely useless! Everything is useless.”
“Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher. “Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”
“Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is completely meaningless! Nothing has any meaning.”
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
“It is of no use,” says the Preacher. “It is of no use! All is for nothing.”
“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Hevel havalim, saith Kohelet, hevel havalim; all is hevel.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the preacher, “Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Futile! Futile! says Kohelet. Completely meaningless! Everything is futile!
Teacher: Life is fleeting, like a passing mist. It is like trying to catch hold of a breath; All vanishes like a vapor; everything is a great vanity.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes; vanity of vanities, and all things be vanity. (Emptiness and futility, said Ecclesiastes; emptiness and futility, yea, everything is empty and futile.)
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole [is] vanity.
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