Ecclesiastes 1
1 The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities! all is vanity.
3 What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?
What profit hath man of all his labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun?
4 One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.
[One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh, but the earth standeth for ever.
5 The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.
The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.
6 The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.
The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about towards the north: it turneth about continually, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
7 All the riuers goe into the sea, yet the sea is not full: for the riuers goe vnto ye place, whence they returne, and goe.
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full: unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.
8 All things are full of labour: man cannot vtter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the eare filled with hearing.
All things are full of toil; none can express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What is it that hath bene? that that shalbe: and what is it that hath bene done? that which shalbe done: and there is no newe thing vnder the sunne.
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.
10 Is there any thing, whereof one may say, Beholde this, it is newe? it hath bene already in the olde time that was before vs.
Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already in the ages which were before us.
11 There is no memorie of the former, neither shall there be a remembrance of the latter that shalbe, with them that shall come after.
There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be remembrance of things that are to come with those who shall live afterwards.
12 I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I haue giuen mine heart to search and finde out wisdome by all things that are done vnder the heauen: (this sore trauaile hath GOD giuen to the sonnes of men, to humble them thereby)
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.
14 I haue considered all the workes that are done vnder the sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
15 That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold, I am become great, and excell in wisdome all them that haue bene before me in Ierusalem: and mine heart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge.
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.
17 And I gaue mine heart to knowe wisdome and knowledge, madnes and foolishnes: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.
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.
18 For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.
For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
