"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all {is} vanity and vexation of spirit." — Ecclesiastes 1:14

Ecclesiastes 1:14 · KJV

“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.”

— Ecclesiastes 1:14

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all {things} that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. {to be...: or, to afflict them}

Verse 15

{That which is} crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. {that which is wanting: Heb. defect}

Ecclesiastes 1 — Context

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.

{That which is} crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. {that which is wanting: Heb. defect}

I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all {they} that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. {had...: Heb. had seen much}

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all {was} vanity and vexation of spirit, and {there was} no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For {God} giveth to a man that {is} good in his sight 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 is} good before God. This also {is} vanity and vexation of spirit. {in his...: Heb. before him}

Ecclesiastes 2:17

Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun {is} grievous unto me: for all {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better {is} the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this {is} also vanity and vexation of spirit. {than...: Heb. than the walking of the soul}

Ecclesiastes 1:17-18

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Psalms 39:5-6

Behold, thou hast made my days {as} an handbreadth; and mine age {is} as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state {is} altogether vanity. Selah. {at...: Heb. settled}

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This {is} also vanity and vexation of spirit. {every...: Heb. all the rightness of work} {for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour}

1 Kings 4:30-32

And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.