Ecclesiastes 1
1 The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.
Words of a preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities: the whole [is] vanity.
3 What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?
What advantage [is] to man by all his labor that he labors at under the sun?
4 One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.
A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth is standing for all time.
5 The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.
Also, the sun has risen, and the sun has gone in, and to its place panting it is rising there.
6 The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.
Going to the south, and turning around to the north, turning around, turning around, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind has returned.
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 streams are going to the sea, and the sea is not full; to a place to where the streams are going, there they are turning back to go.
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 these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor is the ear filled from 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? It [is] that which is, and what [is] that which has been done? It [is] that which is done, and there is not an entirely 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.
There is a thing of which [one] says: “See this, it [is] new!” Already it has been in the ages that 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 not a remembrance of former [generations]; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.
12 I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:
I, a preacher, have been 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 have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that has been done under the heavens. It [is] a sad travail God has given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.
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 have been done under the sun, and behold, the whole [is] vanity and distress of spirit!
15 That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.
A crooked thing [one] is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to 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 with my heart, saying, “I, behold, have magnified and added wisdom above everyone who has been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart has seen wisdom and knowledge abundantly.
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 give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] distress of spirit;
18 For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.
for in abundance of wisdom [is] abundance of sadness, and he who adds knowledge adds pain.”
