Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible
Geneva Bible
Ecclesiastes 4:7
Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
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.
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.
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 Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne. 8 There is one alone, & there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile. 9 Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour. 10 For if they fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp. 11 Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate? 12 And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily 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
Vnto the woman he said, I will greatly increase thy sorowes, and thy conceptions. In sorowe shalt thou bring foorth children, and thy desire shalbe subiect to thine husbande, and he shall rule ouer thee.
Vnto the woman he said, I will greatly increase thy sorowes, and thy conceptions. In sorowe shalt thou bring foorth children, and thy desire shalbe subiect to thine husbande, and he shall rule ouer thee.
Genesis 4:6
Then ye Lord said vnto Kain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance cast downe?
Then ye Lord said vnto Kain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance cast downe?
Genesis 4:8
Then Kain spake to Habel his brother. And when they were in the fielde, Kain rose vp against Habel his brother, and slewe him.
Then Kain spake to Habel his brother. And when they were in the fielde, Kain rose vp against Habel his brother, and slewe him.
Genesis 4:9
Then the Lorde said vnto Kain, Where is Habel thy brother? Who answered, I cannot tell. Am I my brothers keeper?
Then the Lorde said vnto Kain, Where is Habel thy brother? Who answered, I cannot tell. Am I my brothers keeper?
Genesis 4:10
Againe he said, What hast thou done? the voyce of thy brothers blood cryeth vnto me from the earth.
Againe he said, What hast thou done? the voyce of thy brothers blood cryeth vnto me from the earth.
Genesis 4:11
Now therefore thou art cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receiue thy brothers blood from thine hand.
Now therefore thou art cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receiue thy brothers blood from thine hand.
Genesis 4:12
When thou shalt till the grounde, it shall not henceforth yeelde vnto thee her strength: a vagabond and a runnagate shalt thou be in the earth.
When thou shalt till the grounde, it shall not henceforth yeelde vnto thee her strength: a vagabond and a runnagate shalt thou be in the earth.
Genesis 4:13
Then Kain said to the Lorde, My punishment is greater, then I can beare.
Then Kain said to the Lorde, My punishment is greater, then I can beare.
Genesis 19:21
Then he said vnto him, Beholde, I haue receiued thy request also concerning this thing, that I will not ouerthrow this citie, for the which thou hast spoken.
Then he said vnto him, Beholde, I haue receiued thy request also concerning this thing, that I will not ouerthrow this citie, for the which thou hast spoken.
Numbers 32:23
But if ye will not doe so, beholde, ye haue sinned against the Lorde, and be sure, that your sinne will finde you out.
But if ye will not doe so, beholde, ye haue sinned against the Lorde, and be sure, that your sinne will finde 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: âA man without companions is like the left hand without the right.â
