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 of Israel in Jerusalem.
2 Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?
What advantage [is there] to a man in all his labor that he takes under the sun?
4 One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.
A generation goes, and a generation comes: but the earth stands for ever.
5 The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.
And the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws toward its place;
6 The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.
arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns 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; and yet the sea is not filled: to the place whence the rivers come, there they return 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 labor; a man will not be able to speak [of them]: neither shall the eye be satisfied with seeing, neither shall the ear be 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.
What is that which has been? the very thing which shall be: and what is that which has been done? the very thing which shall be done: and there is no new thing 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.
[Who is he] that shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? it has already been in the ages that have passed 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 memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with them that shall at the last [time].
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 out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled 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 saw all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, saw, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.
15 That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.
That which is crooked can’t be made straight: and deficiency can’t 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 spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know 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 my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.
18 For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.
For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he that increases knowledge will increase sorrow.
