New International Version I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. New Living Translation I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind. English Standard Version I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. Berean Standard Bible I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. Berean Literal Bible I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun, and indeed, all is vapor and striving after the wind. King James Bible I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. New King James Version I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. New American Standard Bible I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is futility and striving after wind. NASB 1995 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. NASB 1977 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. Legacy Standard Bible I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. Amplified Bible I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a futile grasping and chasing after the wind. Berean Annotated Bible I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind {ruach}. Christian Standard Bible I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. Holman Christian Standard Bible I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. American Standard Version I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. Contemporary English Version I have seen it all, and everything is just as senseless as chasing the wind. English Revised Version I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. GOD'S WORD® Translation I have seen everything that is done under the sun. Look at it! It's all pointless. [It's like] trying to catch the wind. Good News Translation I have seen everything done in this world, and I tell you, it is all useless. It is like chasing the wind. International Standard Version I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless—like chasing after the wind. NET Bible I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile--like chasing the wind! New Heart English Bible I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and look, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. Webster's Bible Translation I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleI have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. World English Bible I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionI have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and behold, the whole [is] vanity and distress of spirit! Berean Literal Bible I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun, and indeed, all is vapor and striving after the wind. Young's Literal Translation I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit! Smith's Literal Translation I saw all the works they did under the sun; and behold, all vanity and striving of the spirit. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit. Catholic Public Domain Version I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit. New American Bible I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase after wind. New Revised Standard Version I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleI have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated I have seen all the work that is done under the sun, and behold, everything is futility and agitation of spirit OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. Brenton Septuagint Translation I beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, beheld, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context With Wisdom Comes Sorrow…13And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them! 14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. 15What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.… Cross References I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, Ecclesiastes 8:9 All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment. Ecclesiastes 8:17 I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend. Ecclesiastes 4:1 Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter. and have found them all to be futile, Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:26 To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope a pursuit of the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9 Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Hosea 12:1 Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt. Ecclesiastes 2:11 Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 4:4 I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:16 There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. Ecclesiastes 7:6 For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile. Ecclesiastes 8:10 Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile. Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun. Treasury of Scripture I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 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… Ecclesiastes 2:11,17,26 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… 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… Jump to Previous Chasing Desire Meaningless Purpose Pursuit Spirit Striving Sun Vanity Vexation Whole Wind WorksJump to Next Chasing Desire Meaningless Purpose Pursuit Spirit Striving Sun Vanity Vexation Whole Wind WorksEcclesiastes 1 1. the preacher shows that all human courses are vain4. because the creatures are restless in their courses 9. they bring forth nothing new, and all old things are forgotten 12. and because he has found it so in the studies of wisdom I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, Solomon (whose name means “peaceful”) surveyed human life with unusual opportunity, wisdom, wealth, authority, and experience. He examined work, pleasure, knowledge, wealth, achievement, and reputation, not as a detached observer but as one who possessed them in abundance. Life under the sun describes humanity viewed within the boundaries of a fallen world, where death ends every earthly accomplishment and no human effort can secure lasting gain. Ecc 8:9 All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed… and have found them all to be futile, Human endeavors cannot bear the weight of ultimate meaning when separated from the fear of God. Success may be real, labor may be necessary, and wisdom may be valuable, yet none can overcome sin, death, or the judgment to come. Psalm 39:5–6 likewise portrays human life as brief and restless, while James 4:14 compares it to a mist that quickly disappears. Ecc 2:17 So I hated life, because the work that is done… a pursuit of the wind. Efforts to obtain permanent satisfaction from temporary things resemble trying to seize the wind: the pursuit consumes strength but yields no lasting possession. Solomon’s conclusion does not condemn faithful work or earthly blessings; it exposes the emptiness of making them the final purpose of life. Lasting purpose is found in receiving life as God’s gift, obeying Him, and living in light of eternity. Ecc 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls… Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom, wealth, and extensive building projects, including the Temple in Jerusalem. 2. Jerusalem The central place of worship and governance during Solomon's reign, representing the height of Israel's power and prosperity. 3. Under the Sun A phrase used throughout Ecclesiastes to describe life on earth from a human perspective, emphasizing the temporal and often futile nature of worldly pursuits. Teaching Points The Futility of Earthly PursuitsSolomon's observation that "all is vanity" challenges us to evaluate our priorities and the ultimate purpose of our endeavors. Are we investing in things that have eternal significance? The Search for Meaning The phrase "chasing after the wind" suggests the elusive nature of fulfillment through worldly achievements. True satisfaction is found in a relationship with God, not in material success. Perspective on Life's Work Understanding that our labor "under the sun" is temporary can free us from the pressure to find ultimate meaning in our careers or accomplishments. Instead, we can focus on serving God and others. Wisdom in Contentment Ecclesiastes encourages us to find contentment in the simple pleasures of life, recognizing them as gifts from God rather than ultimate goals. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 1:14?2. How does Ecclesiastes 1:14 define the pursuit of worldly achievements and desires? 3. What does "chasing after the wind" reveal about human efforts without God? 4. How can Ecclesiastes 1:14 guide us in prioritizing spiritual over material pursuits? 5. Which New Testament teachings align with Ecclesiastes 1:14's view on earthly endeavors? 6. How can we apply Ecclesiastes 1:14 to find true fulfillment in life? 7. What does Ecclesiastes 1:14 mean by "everything is futile" in a Christian context? 8. How does Ecclesiastes 1:14 challenge the belief in a purposeful life? 9. Why does Ecclesiastes 1:14 describe human endeavors as "chasing after the wind"? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 1? What Does Ecclesiastes 1:14 Mean I have seenSolomon writes as a man who has tasted the heights of wisdom, wealth, and influence. His “seeing” is not casual; it is the careful scrutiny of one granted exceptional insight (1 Kings 4:29-34). • This eyewitness quality mirrors John’s later testimony: “what we have seen with our eyes” (1 John 1:1). • The repeated phrase “I saw” throughout Ecclesiastes (e.g., 2:13, 3:10, 4:1) underscores personal credibility—he speaks from lived experience, not theory. all the things that are done under the sun “Under the sun” frames life from an earthly vantage point, deliberately leaving God out of the equation. • Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us “There is an appointed time for everything,” yet when the eternal God is sidelined, even lawful activities lose their luster. • 9:3 laments that “the same fate comes to all,” capturing the treadmill feel of earthly existence. • Paul echoes this limited horizon: “If we have hope in Christ for this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19). and have found them all to be futile Solomon’s verdict is sweeping: every human endeavor, viewed apart from God, collapses into futility. • Romans 8:20 identifies creation itself as “subjected to futility,” confirming Solomon’s observation on a cosmic scale. • Isaiah 55:2 asks, “Why spend money on what is not bread?”—a rhetorical nudge toward the same conclusion. • Jeremiah 2:13 describes the tragedy of forsaking “the fountain of living water” for broken cisterns, a vivid picture of futility. a pursuit of the wind Chasing wind is the ultimate illustration of emptiness—constant motion without a prize. • Hosea 12:1 rebukes Ephraim for “pursuing the east wind,” spotlighting a national example of the same folly. • Proverbs 11:29 warns, “He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,” stressing that empty pursuits yield empty rewards. • Jesus contrasts this with eternal treasure: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19-21), while asking, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). summary Ecclesiastes 1:14 delivers a sober, Spirit-inspired assessment: every human activity that excludes God—no matter how impressive—proves empty, like trying to net the wind. Solomon’s firsthand survey of life under the sun drives us to look above the sun, where meaning is anchored in the Creator and His eternal purposes. (14) Vexation.—The word occurs only in this book (Ecclesiastes 2:11; Ecclesiastes 2:17; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes 4:4; Ecclesiastes 4:6; Ecclesiastes 6:9...Verse 14. - Here is the result of this examination of human actions. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. In his varied experience nothing had escaped his notice. And behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit; reuth ruach; afflictio spiritus (Vulgate); προαίρεσις πνεύματος, "choice of spirit," or, "wind" (Septuagint); νομὴ ἀνέμου (Aquila and Theodotion); βοσκήσις ἀνέμου, "feeding on wind" (Symmachus). This last translation, or "striving after wind," seems to be most agreeable to the etymology of the word רְעוּת, which, except in this book (Ecclesiastes 2:11, 17, 26, etc.), occurs elsewhere only in the Chaldee portion of Ezra (Ezra 5:17; Ezra 7:18). Whichever sense is taken, the import is much the same. What is implied is the unsubstantial and unsatisfying nature of human labors and endeavors. Many compare Hosea 12:2, "Ephraim feedeth on wind," and Isaiah 44:20, "He feedeth on ashes." In contrast, perhaps, to this constantly recurring complaint, the author of the Book of Wisdom teaches that murmuring is unprofitable and blasphemous (Wisd. 1:11). Bailey, in 'Festus,' sings -"Of all life's aims, what's worth the thought we waste on't? Hebrew I have seenרָאִ֙יתִי֙ (rā·’î·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 7200: To see all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the things הַֽמַּעֲשִׂ֔ים (ham·ma·‘ă·śîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property that are done שֶֽׁנַּעֲשׂ֖וּ (šen·na·‘ă·śū) Pronoun - relative | Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6213: To do, make under תַּ֣חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of the sun, הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ (haš·šā·meš) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement and have found וְהִנֵּ֥ה (wə·hin·nêh) Conjunctive waw | Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! them all הַכֹּ֛ל (hak·kōl) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every to be futile, הֶ֖בֶל (he·ḇel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory a pursuit וּרְע֥וּת (ū·rə·‘ūṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 7469: A feeding upon, grasping after of the wind. רֽוּחַ׃ (rū·aḥ) Noun - common singular Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit Additonal Resources Ecclesiastes 1:14 Blue Letter BibleEcclesiastes 1:14 Bible Gateway Ecclesiastes 1:14 Bible.com Ecclesiastes 1:14 NIV |
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