Ecclesiastes 2:17

World English Bible (2000)

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

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Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 2:11 : 11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
  • Eccl 2:22 : 22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?
  • Eccl 3:16 : 16 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 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who 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 chasing after wind.
  • Jer 20:14-18 : 14 Cursed is the day in which I was born: don't let the day in which my mother bore me be blessed. 15 Cursed is the man who brought news to my father, saying, A boy is born to you; making him very glad. 16 Let that man be as the cities which Yahweh overthrew, and didn't repent: and let him hear a cry in the morning, and shouting at noontime; 17 because he didn't kill me from the womb; and so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb always great. 18 Why 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 Yahweh was strong on me.
  • Jonah 4:3 : 3 Therefore now, Yahweh, take, I beg you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live."
  • Jonah 4:8 : 8 It happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so 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 do you show me iniquity, and look at perversity? For destruction and violence are before me. There is strife, and contention rises up.
  • Phil 1:23-25 : 23 But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake. 25 Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
  • Num 11:15 : 15 If you treat me this way, please kill me right now, if I have found favor in your sight; and don't let me 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 Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."
  • Job 3:20-22 : 20 "Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul, 21 Who long for death, but it doesn't come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, 22 who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
  • Job 7:15-16 : 15 so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones. 16 I loathe my life. I don't want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
  • Job 14:13 : 13 "Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
  • Ps 89:47 : 47 Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you 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 chasing 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%

    18 I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

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

    20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.

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

    22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?

    23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

    24 There 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.

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

    26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

  • Eccl 2:10-12
    3 verses
    89%

    10 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn't keep from them. I didn't withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

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

    12 I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

  • Eccl 1:13-14
    2 verses
    87%

    13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

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

  • Eccl 4:2-4
    3 verses
    82%

    2 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

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

    4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 1:2-3
    2 verses
    82%

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

    3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

  • Eccl 4:7-8
    2 verses
    81%

    7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

    8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. "For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?" This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

  • Eccl 1:17
    81%

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

  • Eccl 12:8
    81%

    8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher. "All is vanity!"

  • Eccl 4:16
    79%

    16 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.

  • Eccl 2:15-16
    2 verses
    79%

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

    16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!

  • Job 7:16
    78%

    16 I loathe my life. I don't want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

  • Eccl 8:9-10
    2 verses
    78%

    9 All this have I seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

    10 So I saw the wicked buried. Indeed they came also from holiness. They went and were forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is vanity.

  • Eccl 8:17
    78%

    17 then I saw all the work of God, that man can't find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won't find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won't be able to find it.

  • Eccl 5:16-17
    2 verses
    77%

    16 This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

    17 All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    77%

    11 For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

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

  • Eccl 2:1-2
    2 verses
    77%

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

    2 I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"

  • Eccl 3:22
    77%

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

  • Eccl 8:14-15
    2 verses
    77%

    14 There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous 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.

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

  • Eccl 6:9
    76%

    9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

  • Eccl 3:9-10
    2 verses
    76%

    9 What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?

    10 I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

  • Eccl 3:12
    76%

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

  • Eccl 11:8
    76%

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

  • Eccl 9:1
    75%

    1 For 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 is love or hatred, man doesn't know it; all is before them.

  • Eccl 6:1
    75%

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

  • Eccl 9:3
    75%

    3 This is an evil in all that is 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 9:9-10
    2 verses
    75%

    9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity: for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.

    10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.

  • Eccl 2:4
    74%

    4 I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.