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 by all his labor with which he wearieth himself 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; while 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 riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteneth to the place whence it 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 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: unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go 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 toil; none can express it. 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 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 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 whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already 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 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, 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 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 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 pursuit of the 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 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 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 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 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 vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
