Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun?
What profit has man from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever.
One generation goes, and another generation comes, but the earth abides forever.
5 The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,
The sun also arises, and the sun goes down and hastens to its place where it arises.
6 Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits.
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.
7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again.
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.
8 All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.
All things are full of weariness, man cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done.
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.
10 Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us.
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.
11 There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.
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.
12 I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.
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.
14 I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15 The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
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.
17 And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
18 Because In much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.
For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
