“Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “Futility of futilities! All is futility.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 NASB Futility – “Ecclesiastes is a strange and disquieting book. It gives voice to an experience not usually thought of as religious: the pain and frustration engendered by an unblinking gaze at life’s absurdities and injustices.”[1] The Preacher (Teacher) Qohelet writes…
“Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “Futility of futilities! All is futility.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 NASB Futility – Vanity of vanities. You probably know this verse with the KJV rendering of the Hebrew hebel. “Futility” is much better. Qohelet isn’t decrying pride. He’s exasperated about life’s purposelessness. In the end, it all turns to rot. As…
“Utter futility!—said Koheleth—Utter futility! All is futile!” Ecclesiastes 1:2 JPS Utter futility! – Tom Clancy isn’t correct. The sum of all fears is not nuclear holocaust. That possibility might make some sense given the enormity of human evil, the insatiable quest for power, and the technological ability to exterminate. But when you read the novel,…
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways. Psalm 119:37 NASB Vanity – Take a look at your life. Take a hard look! How much of what you “see” is really worthless, false or empty? How much of it is just the same squirrel cage routine? How much of…
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 NASB All – As the religious world finds ease in the holidays of faith, we might usefully take a longer look at the summation of life by the Preacher, Koheleth. Perhaps you know the Hebrew phrase, havel havalim (vanity of vanities)….
“All is vanity” Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity – The Bible is the most realistic book about life that has ever been written. In this verse, it tells us that sometime during your earthly sojourn, you will arrive at the zero sum. That’s when you add up all the things that consume our attention, demand our energy,…
