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, saith 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 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 riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,
The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteneth to the place whence it arose.
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 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 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 whence the rivers come, thither they return.
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 words become weary; man cannot express 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.
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 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 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: 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 former things, and of things that are to come there shall be no remembrance to those who live afterwards.
12 I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel at 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 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 things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
I saw all the things which are done under the sun; and, behold, it was all vanity, and 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 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 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 gave my mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is 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 vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
