Ecclesiastes 2:17

American Standard Version (1901)

So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 2:11 : 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
  • Eccl 2:22 : 22 For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?
  • Eccl 3:16 : 16 And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
  • Eccl 4:2 : 2 Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;
  • Eccl 6:9 : 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
  • Jer 20:14-18 : 14 Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. 15 Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man-child is born unto thee; making him very glad. 16 And let that man be as the cities which Jehovah overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear a cry in the morning, and shouting at noontime; 17 because he slew me not from the womb; and so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb always great. 18 Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
  • Ezek 3:14 : 14 So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away; and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me.
  • Jonah 4:3 : 3 Therefore now, O Jehovah, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
  • Jonah 4:8 : 8 And it came to pass, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
  • Hab 1:3 : 3 Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up.
  • Phil 1:23-25 : 23 But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better: 24 yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith;
  • Num 11:15 : 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
  • 1 Kgs 19:4 : 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Jehovah, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
  • Job 3:20-22 : 20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul; 21 Who long for death, but it cometh not, And dig for it more than for hid treasures; 22 Who rejoice exceedingly, And are glad, when they can find the grave?
  • Job 7:15-16 : 15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than [these] my bones. 16 I loathe [my life] ; I would not live alway: Let me alone; for my days are vanity.
  • Job 14:13 : 13 Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
  • Ps 89:47 : 47 Oh remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men!
  • Eccl 1:14 : 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 2:18-26
    9 verses
    90%

    18And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

    19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

    20Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.

    21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

    22For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?

    23For all his days are [but] sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.

    24There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

    25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

    26For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 2:10-12
    3 verses
    89%

    10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.

    11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

    12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that cometh after the king? [even] that which hath been done long ago.

  • Eccl 1:13-14
    2 verses
    87%

    13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

    14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 4:2-4
    3 verses
    82%

    2Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;

    3yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

    4Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 1:2-3
    2 verses
    82%

    2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

    3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

  • Eccl 4:7-8
    2 verses
    81%

    7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

    8There 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.

  • Eccl 1:17
    81%

    17And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 12:8
    81%

    8Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

  • Eccl 4:16
    79%

    16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 2:15-16
    2 verses
    79%

    15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.

    16For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!

  • Job 7:16
    78%

    16I loathe [my life] ; I would not live alway: Let me alone; for my days are vanity.

  • Eccl 8:9-10
    2 verses
    78%

    9All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: [there is] a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.

    10So I saw the wicked buried, and they came [to the grave] ; and they that had done right went away from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city: this also is vanity.

  • Eccl 8:17
    78%

    17then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

  • Eccl 5:16-17
    2 verses
    77%

    16And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?

    17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    77%

    11Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

    12For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • Eccl 2:1-2
    2 verses
    77%

    1I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.

    2I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?

  • Eccl 3:22
    77%

    22Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?

  • Eccl 8:14-15
    2 verses
    77%

    14There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

    15Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that shall abide with him in his labor [all] the days of his life which God hath given him under the sun.

  • Eccl 6:9
    76%

    9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 3:9-10
    2 verses
    76%

    9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?

    10I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

  • Eccl 3:12
    76%

    12I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.

  • Eccl 11:8
    76%

    8Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

  • Eccl 9:1
    75%

    1For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.

  • Eccl 6:1
    75%

    1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:

  • Eccl 9:3
    75%

    3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.

  • Eccl 9:9-10
    2 verses
    75%

    9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity: for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labor wherein thou laborest under the sun.

    10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

  • Eccl 2:4
    74%

    4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;