Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 verse 14 Holy Bible
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
read chapter 1 in ASV
I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.
read chapter 1 in BBE
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
read chapter 1 in DARBY
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
read chapter 1 in KJV
read chapter 1 in WBT
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
read chapter 1 in WEB
I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole `is' vanity and vexation of spirit!
read chapter 1 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 14. - Here is the result of this examination of human actions. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. In his varied experience nothing had escaped his notice. And behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit; reuth ruach; afflictio spiritus (Vulgate); προαίρεσις πνεύματος, "choice of spirit," or, "wind" (Septuagint); νομὴ ἀνέμου (Aquila and Theodotion); βοσκήσις ἀνέμου, "feeding on wind" (Symmachus). This last translation, or "striving after wind," seems to be most agreeable to the etymology of the word רְעוּת, which, except in this book (Ecclesiastes 2:11, 17, 26, etc.), occurs elsewhere only in the Chaldee portion of Ezra (Ezra 5:17; Ezra 7:18). Whichever sense is taken, the import is much the same. What is implied is the unsubstantial and unsatisfying nature of human labors and endeavors. Many compare Hosea 12:2, "Ephraim feedeth on wind," and Isaiah 44:20, "He feedeth on ashes." In contrast, perhaps, to this constantly recurring complaint, the author of the Book of Wisdom teaches that murmuring is unprofitable and blasphemous (Wisd. 1:11). Bailey, in 'Festus,' sings - "Of all life's aims, what's worth the thought we waste on't?How mean, how miserable, seems every care!How doubtful, too, the system of the mind!And then the ceaseless, changeless, hopeless roundOf weariness, and heartlessness, and woe,And vice, and vanity! Yet these make life -The life, at least, I witness, if not feelNo matter, we are immortal."
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(14) Vexation.--The word occurs only in this book (Ecclesiastes 2:11; Ecclesiastes 2:17; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes 4:4; Ecclesiastes 4:6; Ecclesiastes 6:9). The A. V. translation, "vexation of spirit," is difficult to justify. Very nearly the same phrase occurs in Hosea 12:1, and is there translated "feeding on wind," for in Hebrew, as in some other languages, the name for "spirit" primarily denotes breath or wind. Accordingly many interpreters understand the phrase of the text "feeding on wind" (see Isaiah 44:20). The same root, however, which means to "feast on a thing," has the secondary meaning to "delight in a thing," and so the corresponding noun in Chaldee comes to mean "pleasure" or "will." (Comp. Ezra 5:17; Ezra 7:18.) Accordingly the LXX. and many modern interpreters understand the phrase of the text "effort after wind." . . .
