Ecc 1:17, 2:11, 17-18, 26, 3:19, 4:4, 8, 16 | ESV | STEP | And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly . I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind .

11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was ^dvanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing ^eto be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-18

17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for ^fall is vanity and a striving after wind.

The Vanity of Toil

18 I hated ^gall my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must ^hleave it to the man who will come after me,

Ecclesiastes 2:26

26 For to the one who pleases him ⁱGod has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given ^jthe business of gathering and collecting, ^konly to give to one who pleases God. ^lThis also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:19

19 ^mFor what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. ^{▼▼The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)}

Ecclesiastes 4:4

4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is ^ovanity ^{▼▼The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 7, 8, 16 (see note on 1:2)} and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his ^qeyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, ^r“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy ^sbusiness.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

16 There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is ^tvanity and a striving after wind.