14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is (A)vanity[a] and a striving after wind.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 1:14 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
  2. Ecclesiastes 1:14 Or a feeding on wind; compare Hosea 12:1 (also in Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9)

14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(A)

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(A)Man is like a breath;
    his days are like (B)a passing (C)shadow.

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They are like a breath;(A)
    their days are like a fleeting shadow.(B)

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16 I (A)loathe my life; I would not live forever.
    (B)Leave me alone, for my days are (C)a breath.

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16 I despise my life;(A) I would not live forever.(B)
    Let me alone;(C) my days have no meaning.(D)

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Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and (A)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely (B)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

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You have made my days(A) a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(B)
    even those who seem secure.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.