Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
What profit hath a man by all his labor with which he wearieth himself under the sun?
4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; while the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteneth to the place whence it arose.
6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about to the north; round and round goeth the wind, and returneth to its circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place whence the rivers come, thither they return.
8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
All words become weary; man cannot express it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with 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.
The thing that hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
Is there any thing of which one may say, “Behold, this is new”? It was long ago, in the times which were before us.
11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
There is no remembrance of former things, and of things that are to come there shall be no remembrance to those who live afterwards.
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel at Jerusalem.
13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
And I gave my mind to seek and to search out with wisdom concerning all things which are done under heaven; an evil business, which God hath given to the sons of men, in which to employ themselves.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
I saw all the things which are done under the sun; and, behold, it was all vanity, and striving after wind.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is lacking cannot be counted.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
I communed with my heart, saying, “Behold, I have gained more and greater wisdom than all who have been before me at Jerusalem; yea, my mind hath seen much wisdom and knowledge.”
17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
And I gave my mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
