What does the Bible say about vain?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that what is done apart from God is empty and fleeting, but labor and worship offered in faith to the Lord are never wasted. Psalm 127:1 declares that human building and guarding are vain unless the Lord establishes them, while Psalm 60:11 warns that human help is vain. Ecclesiastes 1:2 exposes the frustration of life pursued merely under the sun, and Psalm 39:6 describes worldly striving as a shadow. Yet believers need not despair: 1 Corinthians 15:58 assures them that their work in the Lord is not in vain. God rejects empty religious acts and vain repetition, as Isaiah 1:13 and Matthew 6:7 show, but He delights in humble, sincere worship.
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- Psalms 127:1
> Unless Yahweh builds the house, They labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, The watchman guards it in vain.
- Psalms 60:11
Give us help against the adversary, For the help of man is vain.
- Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
- Ecclesiastes 1:2
"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
- Matthew 6:7
In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
- Jeremiah 2:30
In vain have I struck your children; they received no correction: your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
- Psalms 39:6
"Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn't know who shall gather.
- Isaiah 1:13
Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies.
- 1 Corinthians 3:20
And again, "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless."
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