Ecclesiastes 2:11

2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

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.

KJV

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Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

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.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had worked, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. ¶

2:12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. even: or, in those things which have been already done

What does Ecclesiastes 2:11 mean?

Ecclesiastes 2:11 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include פָּנָה (pânâh), מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh), יָד (yâd). It connects to 9 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Then

lookedפָּנָהpânâh/paw-naw'/H6437to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc.

all

the

worksמַעֲשֶׂהmaʻăseh/mah-as-eh'/H4639an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property

that

handsיָדyâd/yawd/H3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),

had

wrought,עָשָׂהʻâsâh/aw-saw'/H6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

and

the

labourעָמָלʻâmâl/aw-mawl'/H5999toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind

that

had

labouredעָמַלʻâmal/aw-mal'/H5998to toil, i.e. work severely and with irksomeness

do:עָשָׂהʻâsâh/aw-saw'/H6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

and,

behold,

all

was

vanityהֶבֶלhebel/heh'bel/H1892emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb

and

vexationרְעוּתrᵉʻûwth/reh-ooth'/H7469a feeding upon, i.e. grasping after

spirit,רוּחַrûwach/roo'-akh/H7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)

and

there

was

profitיִתְרוֹןyithrôwn/yith-rone'/H3504preeminence, gain

under

the

sun.שֶׁמֶשׁshemesh/sheh'-mesh/H8121the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:11

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 2:11

109.1-Ps.109.5">ver. 1-5 . II. He prays against his enemies, and devotes them to destruction, ver. 6-20 . III. He prays for himself, that God would help and succour him in his low condition, ver. 21-29 . IV. He concludes with a joyful expectation that God would appear for him, ver. 30, 31 . In singing this psalm we must comfort ourselves with the believing foresight of the certain destruction of all the enemies of Christ and his church, and the certain salvation of all those that trust in God and keep close to him. Appeal to God Against Enemies. 1 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise; 2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. 3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. 4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. It is the unspeakable comfort of all good people that, whoever is against them, God is for them, and to him they may apply as to one that is pleased to concern himself for them. Thus David here. I. He refers himself to God's judgment (

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

2 Samuel 15:3

And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. there: or, none will hear thee from the king downward

2 Samuel 17:1

Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

Proverbs 6:17

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A proud: Heb. Haughty eyes

Proverbs 12:19

The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Jeremiah 9:3

And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:5

And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. deceive: or, mock

Matthew 26:59

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Acts 6:13

And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 2:11.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. leave: Heb. give

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. every: Heb. all the rightness of work for this: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 1:3

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 2:17

Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 2:20

Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. in his: Heb. before him

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 2:11 say?

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Ecclesiastes 2:11 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 2:11 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 2:11, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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