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The pursuit of wisdom is vanity says the great King and author who was famous in his own day for his wisdom. Yet such wisdom is worthless to pursue to those who pursue it to obtain wisdom which is worthless to even pursue. Wisdom was first to be created and even before the waters which the spirit of God did hover over after creating wisdom which helped create the waters which God in spirit did hover over. Wisdom was there and aided in the creation of all things after the waters were created which the spirit of God hovered above.
Wisdom is the binary code of 2 and 2 is the code of transmutation by which wisdom deems itself unworthy to be pursued thru the Prophet and King Solomon who did not pursue wisdom but it was given to him Solomon as a gift from God who also created wisdom before He God created the waters which God did also hover over before the creation of all things save for wisdom which God created before the waters.
Now akin to chasing after wind wisdom has lost it's allure to be pursued by ignorance and foolishness which never stood beside wisdom when the creation of the waters occurred by the hand of God where wisdom was already standing. The wind which wisdom did also help to create neither knows from hence it came nor where it is going and any pursuit of wisdom now compared to wind is a folly by which wisdom no longer stands as the most important thing in the universe replaced by love which God who hovered over the waters after creating wisdom which also helped to create the waters, also is.
<< Ecclesiastes 1:14 >>
New International Version (©1984)
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 (©2007)
I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind.
English Standard Version (©2001)
I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
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.
King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and like grasping the wind.
American King James Version
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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.
Bible in Basic English
I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.
Douay-Rheims Bible
I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
Darby Bible Translation
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of 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.
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.
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.
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!
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Vexation of spirit - A phrase which occurs 7 times, and may be otherwise translated, "feeding on wind." Modern Hebrew grammarians assert that the word rendered "vexation" must be derived from a root signifying "to feed," "follow," "strive after." This being admitted, it remains to choose between two translations:
(1) "striving after wind," or "windy effort;" adopted by the Septuagint and the majority of modern interpreters; or
(2) feeding on wind. Compare Hosea 12:1 : and similar phrases in Proverbs 15:14; Isaiah 44:20; Psalm 37:3.
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
Behold, all is vanity - After all these discussions and experiments, when even the results have been the most successful, I have found only rational satisfaction; but not that supreme good by which alone the soul can be made happy.
O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane!
"How anxious are our cares, and yet how vain
The bent of our desires!"
Pers. Sat. i., 5: 1.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun,.... All things done by the Lord, that were on the earth, and in it, and in the sea; he considered them, and endeavoured to search into the nature of them; and did attain to a very great knowledge of them, so that he could speak of them to the instruction of others; see 1 Kings 4:33; and all that were done by men, by their head, or by their hands; all that were written or wrought by them; all their philosophical works and experiments, and all their mechanic operations; as well as all their good and bad works, in a moral sense; so the Targum,
"I saw all the deeds of the children of men, which are done under the sun in this world;''
and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit; not only the things known, but the knowledge of them; it is mere vanity, there is nothing solid and substantial in it, or that can make a man happy; yea, on the contrary, it is vexatious and distressing; it is not only a weariness to the flesh to obtain it, but, in the reflection of it, gives pain and uneasiness to the mind: it is a "breaking of the spirit" (n) of the man, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Alshech, interpret the phrase; it wastes and consumes his spirit, as well as his time, and all to no purpose; it is, as some ancient Greek versions and others render it, and not amiss, a "feeding on wind" (o); what is useless and unprofitable, and like labouring for that; see Hosea 12:1, Ecclesiastes 5:16; and so Aben Ezra.
(n) "affiictio spiritus", V. L. Junius & Tremellius; "contritio spiritus", so some in Vatablus. (o) , Aquila; "pastio venti", Mercerus, Piscator, Gejerus, Amama.
Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament
He adduces proof of the wearisomeness of this work of research: "I saw all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and striving after the wind." The point of the sentence lies in והנּה equals וארא וה, so that thus rathi is the expression of the parallel fact (circumst. perfect). The result of his seeing, and that, as he has said Ecclesiastes 1:13, of a by no means superficial and limited seeing, was a discovery of the fleeting, unsubstantial, fruitless nature of all human actions and endeavours. They had, as hevel expresses, not reality in them; and also, as denoted by reuth ruahh (the lxx render well by προαίρεσις πνεύματος
, they had no actual consequences, no real issue. Hosea 12:1 also says: "Ephraim feedeth on wind," i.e., follows after, as the result of effort obtains, the wind, roěh ruahh; but only in the Book of Koheleth is this sentence transformed into an abstract terminus technicus (vid., under Reth).
Geneva Study Bible
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Wesley's Notes
1:14 Seen - Diligently observed. Vanity - Not only unsatisfying, but also an affliction or breaking to a man's spirit.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
14. The reason is here given why investigation into man's "works" is only "sore travail" (Ec 1:13); namely, because all man's ways are vain (Ec 1:18) and cannot be mended (Ec 1:15).
vexation of-"a preying upon"
the Spirit-Maurer translates; "the pursuit of wind," as in Ec 5:16; Ho 12:1, "Ephraim feedeth on wind." But old versions support the English Version.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
1:12-18 Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom discovered man's wickedness and misery; so that the more he knew, the more he saw cause to lament and mourn. Let us learn to hate and fear sin, the cause of all this vanity and misery; to value Christ; to seek rest in the knowledge, love, and service of the Saviour.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Wisdom is the binary code of 2 and 2 is the code of transmutation by which wisdom deems itself unworthy to be pursued thru the Prophet and King Solomon who did not pursue wisdom but it was given to him Solomon as a gift from God who also created wisdom before He God created the waters which God did also hover over before the creation of all things save for wisdom which God created before the waters.
Now akin to chasing after wind wisdom has lost it's allure to be pursued by ignorance and foolishness which never stood beside wisdom when the creation of the waters occurred by the hand of God where wisdom was already standing. The wind which wisdom did also help to create neither knows from hence it came nor where it is going and any pursuit of wisdom now compared to wind is a folly by which wisdom no longer stands as the most important thing in the universe replaced by love which God who hovered over the waters after creating wisdom which also helped to create the waters, also is.
<< Ecclesiastes 1:14 >>
New International Version (©1984)
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 (©2007)
I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind.
English Standard Version (©2001)
I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
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.
King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and like grasping the wind.
American King James Version
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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.
Bible in Basic English
I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.
Douay-Rheims Bible
I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
Darby Bible Translation
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of 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.
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.
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.
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!
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Vexation of spirit - A phrase which occurs 7 times, and may be otherwise translated, "feeding on wind." Modern Hebrew grammarians assert that the word rendered "vexation" must be derived from a root signifying "to feed," "follow," "strive after." This being admitted, it remains to choose between two translations:
(1) "striving after wind," or "windy effort;" adopted by the Septuagint and the majority of modern interpreters; or
(2) feeding on wind. Compare Hosea 12:1 : and similar phrases in Proverbs 15:14; Isaiah 44:20; Psalm 37:3.
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
Behold, all is vanity - After all these discussions and experiments, when even the results have been the most successful, I have found only rational satisfaction; but not that supreme good by which alone the soul can be made happy.
O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane!
"How anxious are our cares, and yet how vain
The bent of our desires!"
Pers. Sat. i., 5: 1.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun,.... All things done by the Lord, that were on the earth, and in it, and in the sea; he considered them, and endeavoured to search into the nature of them; and did attain to a very great knowledge of them, so that he could speak of them to the instruction of others; see 1 Kings 4:33; and all that were done by men, by their head, or by their hands; all that were written or wrought by them; all their philosophical works and experiments, and all their mechanic operations; as well as all their good and bad works, in a moral sense; so the Targum,
"I saw all the deeds of the children of men, which are done under the sun in this world;''
and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit; not only the things known, but the knowledge of them; it is mere vanity, there is nothing solid and substantial in it, or that can make a man happy; yea, on the contrary, it is vexatious and distressing; it is not only a weariness to the flesh to obtain it, but, in the reflection of it, gives pain and uneasiness to the mind: it is a "breaking of the spirit" (n) of the man, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Alshech, interpret the phrase; it wastes and consumes his spirit, as well as his time, and all to no purpose; it is, as some ancient Greek versions and others render it, and not amiss, a "feeding on wind" (o); what is useless and unprofitable, and like labouring for that; see Hosea 12:1, Ecclesiastes 5:16; and so Aben Ezra.
(n) "affiictio spiritus", V. L. Junius & Tremellius; "contritio spiritus", so some in Vatablus. (o) , Aquila; "pastio venti", Mercerus, Piscator, Gejerus, Amama.
Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament
He adduces proof of the wearisomeness of this work of research: "I saw all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and striving after the wind." The point of the sentence lies in והנּה equals וארא וה, so that thus rathi is the expression of the parallel fact (circumst. perfect). The result of his seeing, and that, as he has said Ecclesiastes 1:13, of a by no means superficial and limited seeing, was a discovery of the fleeting, unsubstantial, fruitless nature of all human actions and endeavours. They had, as hevel expresses, not reality in them; and also, as denoted by reuth ruahh (the lxx render well by προαίρεσις πνεύματος
, they had no actual consequences, no real issue. Hosea 12:1 also says: "Ephraim feedeth on wind," i.e., follows after, as the result of effort obtains, the wind, roěh ruahh; but only in the Book of Koheleth is this sentence transformed into an abstract terminus technicus (vid., under Reth).Geneva Study Bible
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Wesley's Notes
1:14 Seen - Diligently observed. Vanity - Not only unsatisfying, but also an affliction or breaking to a man's spirit.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
14. The reason is here given why investigation into man's "works" is only "sore travail" (Ec 1:13); namely, because all man's ways are vain (Ec 1:18) and cannot be mended (Ec 1:15).
vexation of-"a preying upon"
the Spirit-Maurer translates; "the pursuit of wind," as in Ec 5:16; Ho 12:1, "Ephraim feedeth on wind." But old versions support the English Version.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
1:12-18 Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom discovered man's wickedness and misery; so that the more he knew, the more he saw cause to lament and mourn. Let us learn to hate and fear sin, the cause of all this vanity and misery; to value Christ; to seek rest in the knowledge, love, and service of the Saviour.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
