And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” ¹ 

“Futile! Futile!” laments ¹  the Teacher, ²  “Absolutely futile! ³  Everything ⁴  is futile!” ⁵ 

“Absolutely futile!” ¹  laments the Teacher, ²  “All of these things ³  are futile!” ⁴ 

For the creation was subjected to futility – not willingly but because of God ¹  who subjected it – in hope

So he caused them to die unsatisfied ¹  and filled with terror. ² 

thus ¹  I have been made to inherit ²  months of futility, ³  and nights of sorrow ⁴  have been appointed ⁵  to me.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins.

So I say this, and insist ¹  in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility ²  of their thinking. ³ 

The Lord knows that peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt. ¹ 

Take note of my brief lifespan! ¹  Why do you make all people so mortal? ² 

For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts ¹  were darkened.

Let him not trust in what is worthless, ¹  deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward. ² 

They are worthless, objects to be ridiculed. When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed.

So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!” ¹ 

Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. ¹  Therefore, fear God!

Though the stillborn child ¹  came into the world ²  for no reason ³  and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness, ⁴ 

The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. ¹  How does that benefit him? ² 

For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns ¹  under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly ²  also is useless. ³ 

So ¹  I again considered ²  another ³  futile thing on earth: ⁴ 

Here is ¹  another ²  enigma ³  that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, ⁴  and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. ⁵  I said, “This also is an enigma.”