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 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 riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he 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 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 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; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return 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 labour; 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.
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 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 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: 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; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that 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 gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath Elohim given to the sons of man 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 vexation of spirit.
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 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 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 heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
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 that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
