Ecclesiastes 4:16

KJV1611 – Modern English

There is no end of all the people, even of all who have been before them; they also that come after will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    There is no end to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    There 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.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    As for the people that haue bene before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their ioye the greater thorow him. This is also a vayne thinge and a vexacion of mynde.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    There is none ende of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    As for the people that haue ben before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable, and they that come after him shall not reioyce in him: This is also a vayne thyng, and vexation of mynde.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    [There is] no end of all the people, [even] of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was--yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    There 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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    There 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.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was--yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 1:14 : 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
  • Eccl 2:11 : 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor I had toiled to do; and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
  • Eccl 2:17 : 17 Therefore I hated life, because the work that was done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
  • Eccl 2:26 : 26 For God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and collecting, only to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
  • Judg 9:19-20 : 19 If then you have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
  • 2 Sam 15:12-13 : 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. 13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.
  • 2 Sam 18:7-8 : 7 Where the people of Israel were defeated before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle was scattered over the face of all the country: and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
  • 2 Sam 19:9 : 9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he has fled out of the land for Absalom.
  • 1 Kgs 1:5-7 : 5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, Why have you done so? And he also was a very handsome man; and his mother bore him after Absalom. 7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.
  • 1 Kgs 1:40 : 40 And all the people came up after him, and the people played flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth resounded with the sound of them.
  • 1 Kgs 12:10-16 : 10 And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you speak to this people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter for us; thus shall you say to them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's waist. 11 And now, whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men that they gave him, 14 and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 Therefore the king did not listen to the people, for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform His word, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 So when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now see to your own house, David. So Israel departed to their tents.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 2:11-12
    2 verses
    82%

    11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor I had toiled to do; and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

    12I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

  • Eccl 4:7-8
    2 verses
    81%

    7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

    8There is one alone, without a second; yes, he has neither child nor brother, yet there is no end to all his labor, nor is his eye satisfied with riches, nor does he ask, 'For whom do I labor and deprive my soul of good?' This is also vanity, yes, it is a grievous toil.

  • Eccl 1:14-15
    2 verses
    81%

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

    15That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is lacking cannot be counted.

  • Eccl 1:8-11
    4 verses
    81%

    8All things are full of labor; man cannot express it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

    9The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

    10Is there anything of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been in ancient times, which were before us.

    11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those who will come after.

  • Eccl 4:2-4
    3 verses
    80%

    2Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

    3Yes, better is he than both, who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

    4Again, I considered all the toil and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Eccl 12:8
    80%

    8Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.

  • Eccl 2:15-23
    9 verses
    79%

    15So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me. And why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart, "This also is vanity."

    16For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since what now is will all be forgotten in the days to come. And how does the wise man die? Just like the fool.

    17Therefore I hated life, because the work that was done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

    18Yes, I hated all my labor that I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

    19And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I have labored and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

    20Therefore I turned my heart to despair over all the labor which I had done under the sun.

    21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill. Yet he must leave his inheritance to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

    22For what has man from all his labor, and of the striving of his heart with which he has labored under the sun?

    23For all his days are sorrowful, and his work is burdensome; even at night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

  • Eccl 1:2-4
    3 verses
    79%

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

    3What profit does a man have from all his labor which he does under the sun?

    4One generation passes away, and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

  • Eccl 5:16
    79%

    16And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit has he who has labored for the wind?

  • Eccl 4:15
    79%

    15I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child who shall stand up in his place.

  • Eccl 6:9-12
    4 verses
    78%

    9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire: this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

    10That which has been is already named, and it is known that it is man: nor can he contend with one mightier than he.

    11Since there are many things that increase vanity, what advantage does man have?

    12For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

  • Eccl 3:22
    77%

    22Therefore I perceive that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what shall be after him?

  • Eccl 11:8
    77%

    8But if a man lives many years, and rejoices in them all, let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is vanity.

  • Eccl 3:19-20
    2 verses
    76%

    19For that which befalls the sons of men also befalls beasts; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other; yes, they all have one breath; so that a man has no advantage over a beast: for all is vanity.

    20All go to one place; all are of dust, and all turn to dust again.

  • Eccl 8:10
    76%

    10Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had done so. This also is vanity.

  • Ps 39:6
    75%

    6Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are troubled in vain: he heaps up riches, and does not know who shall gather them.

  • Eccl 8:14
    75%

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

  • Eccl 8:17
    75%

    17Then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. Even though a man labors to seek it out, he shall not find it; moreover, though a wise man thinks to know it, he shall not be able to find it.

  • Eccl 3:12
    75%

    12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.

  • Eccl 9:3
    74%

    3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes, 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 9:6
    74%

    6Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

  • Eccl 3:15
    73%

    15That which is, has already been; and that which is to be, has already been; and God requires an account of the past.

  • Eccl 6:6-7
    2 verses
    73%

    6Yes, even if he lives a thousand years twice over, yet has seen no good: do not all go to one place?

    7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet his appetite is not satisfied.

  • Eccl 2:25-26
    2 verses
    73%

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

    26For God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and collecting, only to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Eccl 1:17
    73%

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

  • Eccl 6:4
    73%

    4For it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.