Bible Verses About Vanity

It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil; for he gives sleep to his loved ones.

Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.

He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.

Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.

He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

“Vanity of vanities,” says Kohelet; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure”; and behold, this also was vanity.

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.

I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.

I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared.

I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem;

I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.

Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.