Ecclesiastes 1:9

1:9 What exists now is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done;

there is nothing truly new on earth.

Ecclesiastes 1:13-14

1:13 I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine

all that has been accomplished on earth.

I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task

that keeps them occupied.

1:14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth,

and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile – like chasing the wind!

Ecclesiastes 2:17

2:17 So I loathed life because what

happens on earth seems awful to me;

for all the benefits of wisdom are futile – like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:16

The Problem of Injustice and Oppression

3:16 I saw something else on earth:

In the place of justice, there was wickedness,

and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 4:3

4:3 But better than both is the one who has not been born

and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

Ecclesiastes 8:16

Limitations of Human Wisdom

8:16 When I tried to gain wisdom

and to observe the activity on earth –

even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night –

Ecclesiastes 9:6

9:6 What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago,

and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was,

and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.