Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 7th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible
Brenton's Septuagint
Ecclesiastes 4:7
So 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:
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- 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.
American Standard Version
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
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.
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 So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble. 9 Two are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up. 11 Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed alone? 12 And if one should prevail against him, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be 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
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed, he shall watch against thy head, and thou shalt watch against his heel.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed, he shall watch against thy head, and thou shalt watch against his heel.
Genesis 4:6
And the Lord God said to Cain, Why art thou become very sorrowful and why is thy countenance fallen?
And the Lord God said to Cain, Why art thou become very sorrowful and why is thy countenance fallen?
Genesis 4:8
And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go out into the plain; and it came to pass that when they were in the plain Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go out into the plain; and it came to pass that when they were in the plain Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Genesis 4:9
And the Lord God said to Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? and he said, I know not, am I my brother’s keeper?
And the Lord God said to Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? and he said, I know not, am I my brother’s keeper?
Genesis 4:10
And the Lord said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood cries to me out of the ground.
And the Lord said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood cries to me out of the ground.
Genesis 4:11
And now thou art cursed from the earth which has opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand.
And now thou art cursed from the earth which has opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand.
Genesis 4:12
When thou tillest the earth, then it shall not continue to give its strength to thee: thou shalt be groaning and trembling on the earth.
When thou tillest the earth, then it shall not continue to give its strength to thee: thou shalt be groaning and trembling on the earth.
Genesis 4:13
And Cain said to the Lord God, My crime is too great for me to be forgiven.
And Cain said to the Lord God, My crime is too great for me to be forgiven.
Genesis 19:21
And he said to him, Behold, I have had respect to thee also about this thing, that I should not overthrow the city about which thou hast spoken.
And he said to him, Behold, I have had respect to thee also about this thing, that I should not overthrow the city about which thou hast spoken.
Numbers 32:23
But if ye will not do so, ye will sin against the Lord; and ye shall know your sin, when afflictions shall come upon you.
But if ye will not do so, ye will sin against the Lord; and ye shall know your sin, when afflictions shall come upon you.
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.”
