Ecclesiastes 2:11

and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labor that I have labored to do, and behold, the whole [is] vanity and distress of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun!

Literal Standard Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

10And all that my eyes asked I did not keep back from them; I did not withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this has been my portion, from all my labor,

12And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what [is] the man who comes after the king? That which [is] already—they have done it!

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Cross References

Genesis 1:31And God sees all that He has done, and behold, [it is] very good; and there is an evening, and there is a morning—the sixth day.

Ecclesiastes 1:3What advantage [is] to man by all his labor that he labors at under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 1:17And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] distress of spirit;

Ecclesiastes 2:19And who knows whether he is wise or foolish? Yet he rules over all my labor that I have labored at, and that I have done wisely under the sun! This [is] also vanity.

Habakkuk 2:13Behold, is it not from YHWH of Hosts || And peoples are fatigued for fire, || And nations for vanity are weary?

1 John 2:16because all that [is] in the world—the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the ostentation of [one’s] life—is not of the Father, but of the world,

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:2-12

Vanity of Worldly Pleasure. 1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me… Read the whole commentary →

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