Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Words of a preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole [is] vanity.
3 What profit has man from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
What advantage [is] to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun?
4 One generation goes, and another generation comes, but the earth abides forever.
A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing.
5 The sun also arises, and the sun goes down and hastens to its place where it arises.
Also, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there.
6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually in its course, and the wind returns again to its circuits.
Going unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned.
7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place from where the rivers come, there they go again.
All the streams are going unto the sea, and the sea is not full; unto a place whither the streams are going, thither they are turning back to go.
8 All things are full of weariness, man cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
All these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor filled is the ear from hearing.
9 That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done. And there is no new thing under the sun.
What [is] that which hath been? it [is] that which is, and what [is] that which hath been done? it [is] that which is done, and there is not an entirely new thing under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
There is a thing of which [one] saith: 'See this, it [is] new!' already it hath been in the ages that were before us!
11 There is no remembrance of the former things, nor shall there be any remembrance of the latter that are to come, among those who shall come after.
There is not a remembrance of former [generations]; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven. It is a great tribulation that God has given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It [is] a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit!
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
A crooked thing [one] is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.
16 I communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten for me great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yea, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
I — I spake with my heart, saying, 'I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] vexation of spirit;
18 For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
for, in abundance of wisdom [is] abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.'
