Ecclesiastes 1:12
Futility of Secular Accomplishment I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Additional Resources
Referenced Verses
- Eccl 1:1 : 1 ¶ Title The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
- 1 Kgs 4:1-9 : 1 Solomon’s Royal Court and Administrators King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 2 These were his officials:Azariah son of Zadok was the priest. 3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, wrote down what happened. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records. 4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the army.Zadok and Abiathar were priests. 5 Azariah son of Nathan was supervisor of the district governors.Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king. 6 Ahishar was supervisor of the palace. Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of the work crews. 7 Solomon had twelve district governors appointed throughout Israel who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year. 8 These were their names:Ben Hur was in charge of the hill country of Ephraim. 9 Ben Deker was in charge of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan. 10 Ben Hesed was in charge of Arubboth; he controlled Socoh and all the territory of Hepher. 11 Ben Abinadab was in charge of Naphath Dor.(He was married to Solomon’s daughter Taphath.) 12 Baana son of Ahilud was in charge of Taanach and Megiddo, as well as all of Beth Shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah and on past Jokmeam. 13 Ben Geber was in charge of Ramoth Gilead; he controlled the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan, including sixty large walled cities with bronze bars locking their gates. 14 Ahinadab son of Iddo was in charge of Mahanaim. 15 Ahimaaz was in charge of Naphtali.(He married Solomon’s daughter Basemath.) 16 Baana son of Hushai was in charge of Asher and Aloth. 17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was in charge of Issachar. 18 Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin. 19 Geber son of Uri was in charge of the land of Gilead(the territory which had once belonged to King Sihon of the Amorites and to King Og of Bashan). He was sole governor of the area.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 1:1-33 verses87%
1¶ Title The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2Introduction: Utter Futility“Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,“Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”
3Futility Illustrated from Nature What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?
- Eccl 1:13-175 verses81%
13I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.
14I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!
15What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.
16Futility of Secular Wisdom I thought to myself,“I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”
17So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!
- Eccl 2:9-135 verses78%
9So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:
10I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
11Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”
12Wisdom is Better than Folly Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?
13I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:
- 77%
1¶ Introduction to the Book The Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
- Eccl 12:8-103 verses75%
8Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,“All of these things are futile!”
9Concluding Epilogue: Qoheleth’s Advice is Wise Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs.
10The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings.
- 2 Chr 1:12-132 verses74%
12you are granted wisdom and discernment. Furthermore I am giving you riches, wealth, and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.”
13Solomon left the meeting tent at the worship center in Gibeon and went to Jerusalem, where he reigned over Israel.
- Eccl 2:3-42 verses73%
3I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine(all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.
4Futility of Materialism I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.
- 73%
1Solomon’s Royal Court and Administrators King Solomon ruled over all Israel.
- Eccl 2:19-202 verses72%
19Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!
20So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.
- 72%
15So I thought to myself,“The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself,“The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”
- 72%
13Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:
- Eccl 1:9-113 verses72%
9What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.
10Is there anything about which someone can say,“Look at this! It is new!”? It was already done long ago, before our time.
11No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations.
- 71%
1Futility of Self-Indulgent Pleasure I thought to myself,“Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.” But I found that it also is futile.
- 71%
9While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.
- 71%
2Solomon addressed all Israel, including those who commanded units of a thousand and a hundred, the judges, and all the leaders of all Israel who were heads of families.
- 70%
17So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.
- Eccl 2:6-72 verses70%
6I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.
7I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock– both herds and flocks– than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.
- 70%
22King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth.
- 70%
7Labor Motivated by Greed So I again considered another futile thing on earth:
- 2 Chr 1:9-102 verses70%
9Now, LORD God, may your promise to my father David be realized, for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth.
10Now give me wisdom and discernment so I can effectively lead this nation. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”
- 70%
27The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item.
- 69%
25For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.
- 69%
25True Righteousness and Wisdom Are Virtually Nonexistent I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.
- 69%
1Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.
- 69%
15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.
- 69%
46Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal throne.
- 69%
15By me kings reign, and by me potentates decree righteousness;
- 69%
10the king of Jerusalem(one), the king of Hebron(one),
- 69%
1Evil Oppression on Earth So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.
- 69%
14with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now desolate,
- 69%
23King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth.