Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible
American Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 4:7
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- Hastings'Encyclopedias:
- TheDevotionals:
- EveryParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Again, I saw futility under the sun:
Again, I saw futility under the sun:
Hebrew Names Version
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
King James Version
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
English Standard Version
Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
New American Standard Bible
Then I looked again at futility under the sun.
Then I looked again at futility under the sun.
New Century Version
Again I saw something here on earth that was useless:
Again I saw something here on earth that was useless:
Amplified Bible
Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].
Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].
World English Bible
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.
Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.
Berean Standard Bible
Again, I saw futility under the sun.
Again, I saw futility under the sun.
Contemporary English Version
Once again I saw that nothing on earth makes sense.
Once again I saw that nothing on earth makes sense.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then I turned my attention to something else under the sun that is pointless:
Then I turned my attention to something else under the sun that is pointless:
Darby Translation
And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Easy-to-Read Version
Again I saw something else that didn't make sense:
Again I saw something else that didn't make sense:
George Lamsa Translation
Then I turned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Then I turned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Good News Translation
I have noticed something else in life that is useless.
I have noticed something else in life that is useless.
Lexham English Bible
I turned again and saw another vanity under the sun.
I turned again and saw another vanity under the sun.
Literal Translation
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Morouer, I turned me, and beholde yet another vanite vnder the Sonne.
Morouer, I turned me, and beholde yet another vanite vnder the Sonne.
Bible in Basic English
Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
King James Version (1611)
Then I returned, and I saw vanitie vnder the Sunne.
Then I returned, and I saw vanitie vnder the Sunne.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Moreouer I turned me, and beholde yet another vanitie vnder the sunne.
Moreouer I turned me, and beholde yet another vanitie vnder the sunne.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
English Revised Version
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
I bihelde and foond also another vanytee vndir the sunne;
I bihelde and foond also another vanytee vndir the sunne;
Update Bible Version
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
New English Translation
So I again considered another futile thing on earth:
So I again considered another futile thing on earth:
New King James Version
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:
New Living Translation
I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
New Life Bible
Then I looked again at what is of no use under the sun.
Then I looked again at what is of no use under the sun.
New Revised Standard
Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: -
Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: -
Douay-Rheims Bible
Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:
Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:
Revised Standard Version
Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
Young's Literal Translation
And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:
And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:
THE MESSAGE
I turned my head and saw yet another wisp of smoke on its way to nothingness: a solitary person, completely alone—no children, no family, no friends—yet working obsessively late into the night, compulsively greedy for more and more, never bothering to ask, "Why am I working like a dog, never having any fun? And who cares?" More smoke. A bad business.
I turned my head and saw yet another wisp of smoke on its way to nothingness: a solitary person, completely alone—no children, no family, no friends—yet working obsessively late into the night, compulsively greedy for more and more, never bothering to ask, "Why am I working like a dog, never having any fun? And who cares?" More smoke. A bad business.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.
Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.
Contextual Overview
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, saith he, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Ecclesiastes 4:1, Psalms 78:33, Zechariah 1:6
Reciprocal: Psalms 39:6 - surely Ecclesiastes 1:3 - under Ecclesiastes 8:9 - this Ecclesiastes 10:5 - an evil
Cross-References
Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Genesis 4:6
And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Genesis 4:8
And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Genesis 4:9
And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?
And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?
Genesis 4:10
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Genesis 4:11
And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
Genesis 4:12
when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth.
when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth.
Genesis 4:13
And Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
And Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 19:21
And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken.
And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken.
Numbers 32:23
But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against Jehovah; and be sure your sin will find you out.
But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against Jehovah; and be sure your sin will find you out.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. Another vanity besides what he had taken notice of, and is as follows. Aben Ezra's note is,
"I turned from considering the words of this fool, and I saw another fool, the reverse of the former.''
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The spectacle of a prosperous man whose condition is rendered vain by his brotherless, childless isolation.
Ecclesiastes 4:8
A second - Any one associated or connected with him.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Compare a saying from the Talmud: “A man without companions is like the left hand without the right.”
