Ecclesiastes 1:4

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains the same through the ages.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Ps 104:5 : 5 He established the earth on its foundations; it will never be moved.
  • Matt 24:35 : 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
  • Zech 1:5 : 5 “As for your ancestors, where are they? And did the prophets live forever?
  • Eccl 6:12 : 12 For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.
  • 2 Pet 3:10-13 : 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare. 11 Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, 12 while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze! 13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides.
  • Ps 119:90-91 : 90 You demonstrate your faithfulness to all generations. You established the earth and it stood firm. 91 Today they stand firm by your decrees, for all things are your servants.
  • Ps 90:9-9 : 9 Yes, throughout all our days we experience your raging fury; the years of our lives pass quickly, like a sigh. 10 The days of our lives add up to seventy years, or eighty, if one is especially strong. But even one’s best years are marred by trouble and oppression. Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away.
  • Ps 102:24-28 : 24 I say,“O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life! You endure through all generations. 25 In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork. 26 They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear. 27 But you remain; your years do not come to an end. 28 The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants will live securely in your presence.”
  • Gen 5:3-9 : 3 When Adam had lived 130 years he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and he named him Seth. 4 The length of time Adam lived after he became the father of Seth was 800 years; during this time he had other sons and daughters. 5 The entire lifetime of Adam was 930 years, and then he died. 6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh. 7 Seth lived 807 years after he became the father of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters. 8 The entire lifetime of Seth was 912 years, and then he died. 9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 Enosh lived 815 years after he became the father of Kenan, and he had other sons and daughters. 11 The entire lifetime of Enosh was 905 years, and then he died. 12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived 840 years after he became the father of Mahalalel, and he had other sons and daughters. 14 The entire lifetime of Kenan was 910 years, and then he died. 15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived 830 years after he became the father of Jared, and he had other sons and daughters. 17 The entire lifetime of Mahalalel was 895 years, and then he died. 18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 Jared lived 800 years after he became the father of Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters. 20 The entire lifetime of Jared was 962 years, and then he died. 21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 The entire lifetime of Enoch was 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and then he disappeared because God took him away. 25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived 782 years after he became the father of Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters. 27 The entire lifetime of Methuselah was 969 years, and then he died. 28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah, saying,“This one will bring us comfort from our labor and from the painful toil of our hands because of the ground that the LORD has cursed.” 30 Lamech lived 595 years after he became the father of Noah, and he had other sons and daughters. 31 The entire lifetime of Lamech was 777 years, and then he died.
  • Gen 11:20-32 : 20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug. 21 And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters. 22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. 23 And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters. 24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. 25 And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters. 26 When Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27 The Record of Terah This is the account of Terah.Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 Haran died in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans, while his father Terah was still alive. 29 And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai. And the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no children. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot(the son of Haran), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and with them he set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. When they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 The lifetime of Terah was 205 years, and he died in Haran.
  • Gen 36:9-9 : 9 This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the hill country of Seir. 10 These were the names of Esau’s sons:Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were:Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Esau’s wife Adah. 13 These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath. 14 These were the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon: She bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah to Esau. 15 These were the chiefs among the descendants of Esau, the sons of Eliphaz, Esau’s firstborn: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz, 16 chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These were the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah. 17 These were the sons of Esau’s son Reuel: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath. 18 These were the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah. These were the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 19 These were the sons of Esau(also known as Edom), and these were their chiefs.
  • Gen 47:9 : 9 Jacob said to Pharaoh,“All the years of my travels are 130. All the years of my life have been few and painful; the years of my travels are not as long as those of my ancestors.”
  • Exod 1:6-7 : 6 and in time Joseph and his brothers and all that generation died. 7 The Israelites, however, were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them.
  • Exod 6:16-27 : 16 Now these are the names of the sons of Levi, according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.(The length of Levi’s life was 137 years.) 17 The sons of Gershon, by their families, were Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.(The length of Kohath’s life was 133 years.) 19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of Levi, according to their records. 20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses.(The length of Amram’s life was 137 years.) 21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zikri. 22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans. 25 Now Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel and she bore him Phinehas.These are the heads of the fathers’ households of Levi according to their clans. 26 It was the same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said,“Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their regiments.” 27 They were the men who were speaking to Pharaoh king of Egypt, in order to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. It was the same Moses and Aaron.
  • Ps 89:47-48 : 47 Take note of my brief lifespan! Why do you make all people so mortal? 48 No man can live on without experiencing death, or deliver his life from the power of Sheol.(Selah)

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 1:5-11
    7 verses
    83%

    5The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries away to a place from which it rises again.

    6The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round the wind goes and on its rounds it returns.

    7All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.

    8All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing.

    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.

  • Eccl 1:2-3
    2 verses
    76%

    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 4:15-16
    2 verses
    75%

    15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.

    16There 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.

  • Eccl 3:1-2
    2 verses
    75%

    1A Time for All Events in Life For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:

    2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;

  • Ps 103:16
    74%

    16but when the hot wind blows by, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.

  • Heb 1:11-12
    2 verses
    74%

    11They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment,

    12and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.”

  • Eccl 3:14-15
    2 verses
    73%

    14God’s Sovereignty I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

    15Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.

  • Eccl 3:19-20
    2 verses
    73%

    19For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.

    20Both go to the same place, both come from the dust, and to dust both return.

  • Mark 13:31
    72%

    31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

  • Prov 27:24
    72%

    24for riches do not last forever, nor does a crown last from generation to generation.

  • Matt 24:34-35
    2 verses
    72%

    34I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

    35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

  • Ps 145:4
    72%

    4One generation will praise your deeds to another, and tell about your mighty acts!

  • Gen 8:22
    72%

    22“While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”

  • Ps 102:26-27
    2 verses
    71%

    26They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear.

    27But you remain; your years do not come to an end.

  • Joel 1:3
    71%

    3Tell your children about it, have your children tell their children, and their children the following generation.

  • Ps 119:90
    71%

    90You demonstrate your faithfulness to all generations. You established the earth and it stood firm.

  • Ps 90:4
    71%

    4Yes, in your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday that quickly passes, or like one of the divisions of the nighttime.

  • Luke 21:32-33
    2 verses
    71%

    32I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

    33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

  • Eccl 6:6
    71%

    6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!

  • Ps 144:4
    71%

    4People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears.

  • 1 John 2:17
    70%

    17And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.

  • Lam 5:19
    70%

    19But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.

  • Eccl 4:3
    70%

    3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

  • Ps 102:12
    70%

    12But you, O LORD, rule forever, and your reputation endures.

  • Eccl 5:16
    70%

    16This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?

  • Eccl 12:8
    70%

    8Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,“All of these things are futile!”

  • Eccl 2:16
    70%

    16For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies– just like the fool!

  • 1 Pet 1:24-25
    2 verses
    70%

    24For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,

    25but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

  • Isa 40:8
    70%

    8The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.”

  • Ps 49:11
    70%

    11Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves,

  • Eccl 11:8
    70%

    8So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.

  • Ps 145:13
    70%

    13Your kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.

  • Eccl 1:14
    70%

    14I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!

  • 2 Pet 3:4
    69%

    4and saying,“Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.”