Ecclesiastes 6:11

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Ecclesiastes 6:9–12 · Berean Standard Bible

9 Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

10 Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.

11 For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?

12 For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Ecclesiastes 1:6

The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls, ever returning on its course.

Ecclesiastes 1:7

All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place from which the streams come, there again they flow.

Ecclesiastes 1:8

All things are wearisome, more than one can describe; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear content with hearing.

Ecclesiastes 1:9

What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:18

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.

Ecclesiastes 2:3

I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

Ecclesiastes 2:4

I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.

Ecclesiastes 2:5

I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.

Ecclesiastes 2:6

I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

Ecclesiastes 2:7

I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me,

Ecclesiastes 2:8

and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.

Ecclesiastes 2:9

So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.

Ecclesiastes 2:10

Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

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 3:19

For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.

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.

Ecclesiastes 4:2

So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

Ecclesiastes 4:3

But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done 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 4:8

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

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 5:7

For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

Psalms 73:6

Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.

Hosea 12:1

Ephraim chases 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.