77 Bible Verses about Futility

O remember how short my time is; hast thou made all men for nought?

my days pass over more speedily than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. "O remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall no more see the pleasures thereof;

Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of divers miseries. He cometh up and is cut down like a flower. He flyeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one state.

"LORD, let me know mine end, and the number of my days: that I may be certified how long I have to live. Behold, thou hast made my days a span long, and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity. Selah

The same voice spake, "Now cry." And I said, "What shall I cry?" Then spake it, "That all flesh is grass, and that all the beauty thereof, is as the flower of the field. When the grass is withered, the flower falleth away. Even so is the people as grass, when the breath of the LORD bloweth upon them.

and yet cannot tell what shall happen tomorrow. For what thing is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

"This one thing will I say: He destroyeth both the righteous and ungodly.

that a man in his time is but as grass, and flourisheth as a flower of the field. For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone, and the place thereof knoweth it no more.

Yea every man walketh as it were a shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

It is but lost labour that ye rise up early, and take no rest, but eat the bread of carefulness; for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Shall not the LORD of Hosts bring this to pass, that the laborers of the people shall be burnt with a great fire, and that the thing whereupon the people have wearied themselves, shall be lost?

The sun riseth with heat, and the grass withereth and his flower falleth away, and the beauty of the fashion of it perisheth: even so shall the rich man perish with his abundance.

The LORD knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are but vain.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He compasseth the wise in their craftiness." And again, "God knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they be vain."

inasmuch as when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations. And their foolish hearts were blinded.

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other gentiles walk; in vanity of their mind, blinded in their understanding, being strangers from the life which is in God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.

We have heard of the pride of Moab: it is well known. He is very proud, presumptuous, arrogant, and full of indignation, and vain are his lies.

As for Moab's pride, we have heard of it, she is very high-minded. I know her stoutness, her boasting, her arrogance, and the pride of her stomach, sayeth the LORD. For her furiousness may neither uphold her with strength nor deed.

He showeth strength with his arm, he scattereth them that are proud in the imagination of their hearts. He putteth Down the mighty from their seats, and hath exalted them of low degree.

Thus sayeth the LORD, "Cursed be the man that putteth his trust in man, and that taketh flesh for his arm: and he, whose heart departeth from the LORD.

O be thou our help in trouble, for vain is the help of man.

O be thou our help in trouble; for vain is the help of man.

O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man, for there is no help in them. For when the breath of man goeth forth, he shall turn again to his earth, and so all his thoughts perish.

Fear not, then, any man whose breath is in his nostrils - for what is he?

Alas, for those disobedient children," sayeth the LORD, "that will take counsel without me. Alas, that they will take a secret advice, and not out of my spirit: and therefore add they sin unto sin. They go down into Egypt, and ask me no counsel; to seek help at he power of Pharaoh, and comfort in the shadow of the Egyptians. But Pharaoh's help shall be your confusion, and the comfort in the Egyptian's shadow shall be your own shame.read more.
Your rulers have been at Zoan, and your messengers came unto Hanes. They were all ashamed of the people that could do them no good, and that might not help them, nor show them any profit - but were their confusion and rebuke."

Woe be unto them that go down into Egypt for help, and trust in horses, and comfort themselves in chariots, because they be many, and in horsemen because they be lusty and strong. But they regard not the holy one of Israel, and they ask no question at the LORD. Whereas he nevertheless plagueth the wicked, and yet goeth not from his word, when he steppeth forth, and taketh the victory against the household of the froward, and against the help of evil doers. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit. And as soon as the LORD stretcheth out his hand: then shall the helper fall, and he that should have been helped, and they shall all together be destroyed.

{Pe} Wherefore yet our eyes fail us, while we look for vain help: seeing we be ever waiting upon a people that can do us no good.

And they refused his ordinances and his covenant that he had made with their fathers, and the witness which he had witnessed to them and followed vanity and became vain, like to the heathen that were round about them, of which the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

Neither turn ye after vain things which can not deliver you, for they are but vanities.

I have hated them that hold of superstitious vanities, and my trust hath been in the LORD.

Thus sayeth the LORD unto you, "What unfaithfulness found your fathers in me, that they went so far away from me, falling to lightness, and being so vain?

They are altogether unlearned and unwise. All their cunning is but vanity:

O LORD, my strength, my power, and refuge in time of trouble! The Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the world, and say, "Verily our fathers have cleaved unto lies, their Idols are but vain and unprofitable.

They that observe vain vanities, have forsaken him that was merciful unto them.

And therefore if they say unto you, "Ask counsel at the soothsayers, witches, charmers and conjurers," then make them this answer: "Is there a people anywhere, that asketh not counsel at his God? Should they run unto the dead for the living?" If any man want light, let him look upon the law and the testimony whether they speak not after this meaning. If he do not this, he stumbleth and suffereth hunger. And if he suffer hunger, he is out of patience, and blasphemeth his king and his God. Then looketh he upward, and downward to the earth,read more.
and behold, there is trouble and darkness; vexation is round about him, and the cloud of error. And out of such adversity, shall he not escape.

Vain things they see, and tell lies to maintain their preachings withal. 'The LORD,' say they, 'hath spoken it' - when in very deed the LORD hath not sent them. Vain visions have ye seen, and spoken false prophesies, when ye say, 'The LORD hath spoken it,' whereas I never said it. Therefore, thus sayeth the LORD God. Because your words be vain, and ye seek out lies: Behold, I will upon you, sayeth the LORD.read more.
Mine hands shall come upon the prophets that look out vain things and preach lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, nor written in the book of the house of Israel, neither shall they come in the land of Israel: that ye may know how that I am the LORD God.

For vain is the answer of Idols. The soothsayers see lies, and tell but vain dreams. The comfort that they give, is nothing worth. Therefore go they astray like a flock of sheep, and are troubled, because they have no shepherd.

And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them.

And it shall come to pass, that when it is seen that Moab shall be made weary of his hill-chapels, he shall come to his temple to pray - but he shall not be made able.

It standeth as stiff as the palm tree, it can neither speak nor go, but must be borne. Be not ye afraid of such, for they can do neither good nor evil."

Before these days rose up one Theudas boasting himself, to whom resorted a number of men, about a four hundred, which was slain, and they all which believed him were scattered abroad, and brought to nought. After this man arose there up one Judas of Galilee, in the time when tribute began, and drew away much people after him. He also perished: and all, even as many as harkened to him, are scattered abroad. And now I say unto you: refrain yourselves from these men, let them alone: For if the counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from ordinances of the world: Why as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye led with traditions of them that say "Touch not; Taste not; Handle not:" which all perish with the using of them, and are after the commandments, and doctrines of men:read more.
which things have the similitude of wisdom in chosen holiness, and humbleness, and in that they spare not the body - and do the flesh no worship unto his need.

Offer me no more oblations, for it is but lost labour. I abhor your incense. I may not away with your new moons, your Sabbaths and solemn days. Your fastings are also in vain.

Ye have said, 'It is but lost labour, to serve God: What profit have we for keeping his commandments, and for walking humbly before the LORD of Hosts?

'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouths, and honoureth me with their lips, howbeit their hearts are far from me: But in vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but men's precepts.'"

He answered and said unto them, "Well prophesied hath Isaiah of you hypocrites as it is written, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.' In vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but the commandments of men,

And I could not speak unto you brethren as unto spiritual: but as unto carnal, even as it were unto babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink and not meat. For ye then were not strong - no, neither yet are strong. For ye are yet carnal. As long verily as there is among you envying, strife and dissension: are ye not carnal, and walk after the manner of men?

If any man among you seem devout, and refrain not his tongue: but deceive his own heart, this man's devotion is in vain.

Foolish questions, and genealogies, and brawlings and strife about the law; avoid, for they are unprofitable, and superfluous.

But take heed: ye trust in counsels that beguile you and do you no good.

{Nun} Thy prophets have looked out vain and foolish things for thee: they have not showed thee of thy wickedness, to keep thee from captivity; but have overladen thee, and through falsity scattered thee abroad.

Let no man deceive you with vain words. For through such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of unbelief.

Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which after his own imagination walketh in the humbleness and holiness of angels, things which he never saw: causeless, puffed up with his fleshly mind,

from the which things, some have erred, and have turned unto vain jangling,

Of these things put them in remembrance, and testify before the Lord, that they strive not about words, which is to no profit, but to pervert the hearers.

For when they have spoken the swelling words of vanity, they beguile with wantonness through the lusts of the flesh them that were clean escaped: but now are wrapped in errors.

I am the vine, and ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. For without me can ye do nothing.

If any man build on this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, timber, hay, or stubble: every man's work shall appear. For the day shall declare it, and it shall be showed in fire, and the fire shall try every man's work what it is. If any man's work, that he hath built upon, abide; he shall receive a reward.read more.
If any man's work burn; he shall suffer loss. But he shall be safe himself, nevertheless yet as it were through fire.

For unto us was it declared, as well as unto them. But it profited not them that they heard the word, because they which heard it coupled it not with faith.

And whosoever heareth of me these sayings, and doeth them not the same, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And abundance of rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Whosoever heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, there cometh the evil man, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. And this is he which was sown by the wayside. But he that was sown in the stony ground, is he which heareth the word of God, and anon with joy receiveth it, yet hath no roots in himself, and therefore dureth but a season: for as soon as tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he falleth.read more.
He that was sown among thorns, is he that heareth the word of God, but the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and so is he made unfruitful.

And see that ye be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves with sophistry. For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man that beholdeth his bodily face in a glass. For as soon as he hath looked on himself, he goeth his way, and forgetteth immediately what his fashion was:

Wilt thou understand, o thou vain man, that faith without deeds is dead?

This people is a wicked people; they will not hear my word, they follow the wicked imaginations of their own heart, and hang upon strange gods, them have they served and worshiped: and therefore they shall be as this breech, that serveth for nothing.

W hy did the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things?

The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him; he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away, and the desire of the ungodly shall perish.

Thou treadest down all them that depart from thy statutes, for they imagine but deceit.

The patient abiding of the righteous shall be turned to gladness; but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

When an ungodly man dieth, his hope is gone; the confidence of riches shall perish.

"Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts: The thick wall of Babylon shall be broken, and her proud gates shall be burnt up. And the thing that the Gentiles and the people have wrought with great travail and labour shall come to naught and be consumed in the fire."

and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather rebuke them.

and I said, "Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency?

For he sayeth, 'Though a man be good, yet is he naught before God.'

And I said, "I labour in vain and spend my strength for nought, and unprofitably. Howbeit, my cause I commit to the LORD and my travail unto my God."

Forasmuch as ye know how that ye were not redeemed with corruptible gold and silver from your vain conversation, which ye received by the traditions of the fathers,

But if a man purge himself from such fellows, he shall be a vessel sanctified unto honour meet for the Lord, and prepared unto all good works.