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, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities! all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity.
3 What profit hath man of all his labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun?
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4 [One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh, but the earth standeth for ever.
[One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6 The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about towards the north: it turneth about continually, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full: unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
8 All things are full of toil; none can express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
All things [are] full of labour; man cannot utter [it: ] the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which will be done: and there is nothing new under the sun.
The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun.
10 Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already in the ages which were before us.
Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said, See, this [is] new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be remembrance of things that are to come with those who shall live afterwards.
[There is] no remembrance of former [things; ] neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [those] that shall come after.
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I applied my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this grievous occupation hath God given to the children of men to weary themselves therewith.
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
[That which is] crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge.
I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind.
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
