“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 

If I am guilty, ¹  why then ²  weary myself ³  in vain? ⁴ 

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

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

People ¹  are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears. ² 

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

Those who worship ¹  worthless idols ²  forfeit the mercy that could be theirs. ³ 

Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. ¹  When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air. ² 

If you yourselves have all seen this, Why in the world ¹  do you continue this meaningless talk? ² 

So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; ¹  without knowledge he multiplies words.”

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

Wealth gained quickly ¹  will dwindle away, ²  but the one who gathers it little by little ³  will become rich. ⁴ 

Making a fortune ¹  by a lying tongue is like ²  a vapor driven back and forth; ³  they seek death. ⁴ 

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 people of those nations ¹  are both stupid and foolish. Instruction from a wooden idol is worthless! ² 

They are worthless, mere objects to be mocked. ¹  When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed.

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

I loathe ¹  it; ²  I do not want to live forever; leave me alone, ³  for my days are a vapor! ⁴ 

I hate those who serve worthless idols, ¹  but I trust in the Lord.