Esther 5:13

For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

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

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.

So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ahab came into his house sullen and angry because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He laid himself down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.

When Haman saw that Mordecai didn’t bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.

When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate.

“But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place;

He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.

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.

Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel was in the king’s gate.

Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

“Why aren’t times laid up by the Almighty? Why don’t those who know him see his days?

“This is the portion of a wicked man with God, the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.

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.

Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. 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 all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals; for all is vanity.

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.

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then, do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.”

Then he took his oldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel; and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn’t bow down or pay him homage.

Then the king’s servants, who were in the king’s gate, said to Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s commandment?”

Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

Mordecai came back to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.

For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.

so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.

the wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

You who tear yourself in your anger, will the earth be forsaken for you? Or will the rock be removed out of its place?

that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?’

Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

in whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear Yahweh; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;

Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.

Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.”

“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.

Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror.

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.

The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.

Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.

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

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

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

All this I have seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

“For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.

Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then these men were brought before the king.

God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the vine?” He said, “I am right to be angry, even to death.”

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.

Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom.