ECC 1:14 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for Bible-translators and others doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still early looks into the drafted texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Εἶδον σύμπαντα τὰ ποιήματα τὰ πεποιημένα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον· καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
(Eidon sumpanta ta poiaʸmata ta pepoiaʸmena hupo ton haʸlion; kai idou ta panta mataiotaʸs kai proairesis pneumatos.)

BrTr I beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, behold, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.

ULT I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, and—look—everything is vapor and pursuit of wind.

UST Yes, I looked around and observed everything that people do during their lives. Now pay attention! I saw that our lives are as temporary and insubstantial as the fading mist of my breath. Humanity's endless labor is often as silly and frustrating as trying to grab a handful of the wind.

BSB I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

MSB (Same as BSB above)

OEB No OEB ECC book available

WEBBE I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(12-14)Call me “the Quester.” I’ve been king over Israel in Jerusalem. I looked most carefully into everything, searched out all that is done on this earth. And let me tell you, there’s not much to write home about. God hasn’t made it easy for us. I’ve seen it all and it’s nothing but smoke—smoke, and spitting into the wind.

NET I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth,
⇔ and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile – like chasing the wind!

LSV I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and behold, the whole [is] vanity and distress of spirit!

FBV I examined everything people do here on earth, and discovered that it's all so temporary—trying to understand it is like trying to pin down the wind![fn]

1:14 “Wind.” There is a problem in translation since the same word is used in this book for “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit.” So the proverbial “chasing after the wind” could indeed mean “chasing after breath/spirit,” which could be interpreted as seeking the meaning of life (breath/spirit). This is why the KJV translates the phrase as “vexation of spirit.”

T4T It seems that nothing that happens on the earth really enables us to do anything useful. It is like [MET] chasing the wind.

LEB I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything is vanity and chasing wind.

BBE I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

Moff I have seen all that goes on in this world; it is a vain, futile business.

JPS I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

ASV I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

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

YLT I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit!

Drby I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

RV I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

SLT I saw all the works they did under the sun; and behold, all vanity and striving of the spirit.

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

KJB-1769 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
(I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation/frustration of spirit.)

KJB-1611 I haue seene all the workes that are done vnder the Sunne, and behold, all is vanitie, and vexation of spirit.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Thus haue I considered all these thynges that come to passe vnder the sunne: and lo, they are all but vanitie and vexation of mynde.
(Thus have I considered all these things that come to pass under the sun: and lo, they are all but vanity and vexation/frustration of mind.)

Gnva I haue considered all the workes that are done vnder the sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.
(I have considered all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, and vexation/frustration of the spirit.)

Cvdl Thus I haue considered all the thinges that come to passe vnder the Sone, & lo, they are all but vanite & vexacion of mynde.
(Thus I have considered all the things that come to pass under the Son, and lo, they are all but vanity and vexation/frustration of mind.)

Wycl I siy alle thingis that ben maad vndur the sunne, and lo! alle thingis ben vanyte and turment of spirit.
(I saw all things that been made under the sun, and lo! all things been vanity and torment of spirit.)

Luth Ich sah an alles Tun, das unter der Sonne geschieht; und siehe, es war alles eitel und Jammer.
(I saw at/to all/everything conduct/doing, the under the/of_the sun happens/occurs; and see/look, it what/which all/everything vain and misery.)

ClVg Vidi cuncta quæ fiunt sub sole, et ecce universa vanitas et afflictio spiritus.[fn]
(I_saw everything which are_made under sole, and behold universe vanity and affliction spirit.)

1.14 Vidi, etc. Consideravi omnia mundana, et vidi vanitatem et malitiam esse, id est, miserias spiritus, quibus animus diversis fatigatus cogitationibus laborat cognoscere, quod homini non conceditur. HIER. Verbum Routh Aquila et Theodotio, etc., usque ad quibus anima diversis cogitationibus affligitur.

1.14 I_saw, etc. Consideravi everything cleanna, and I_saw vanity and malice to_be, that it_is, miserys spirit, to_whom animus different fatigatus thoughts works to_know, that to_man not/no conceditur. HIER. The_word/saying Routh Aquila and Theodotio, etc., until to to_whom the_soul different thoughts affligitur.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

הַֽ⁠מַּעֲשִׂ֔ים שֶֽׁ⁠נַּעֲשׂ֖וּ

the,works which,they_have_been_done

The expression the deeds that are done is a passive verbal form. If it would be unnatural to use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [the deeds that people do]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

תַּ֣חַת הַ⁠שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ

below/instead_of the,sun

See how you translated the similar expression in [1:3](../01/03.md).

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

וְ⁠הִנֵּ֥ה

and=see/lo/see!

Here the word look draws attention to what follows. If the connection between this statement and the previous one is not clear, you may want to use a different connecting word to show how this statement relates to what comes before it. Alternate translation: [and I found that]

הַ⁠כֹּ֛ל הֶ֖בֶל

(the),everything Abel

See how you translated this expression in [1:2](../01/02.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וּ⁠רְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ

and,striving_of wind

Here Qoheleth is speaking as if human effort were a pursuit of wind, something impossible to catch. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and an effort that accomplishes nothing]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וּ⁠רְע֥וּת

and,striving_of

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of pursuit, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [and chasing after]

Parallel ECC 1:14