Ecclesiastes 1
1 The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.
The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
2 Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.
Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.
3 What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?
What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh 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 riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,
6 The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.
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.
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 doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow 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 hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is 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.
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.
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.
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.
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: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.
12 I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:
I Ecclesiastes 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 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.
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 things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
15 That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.
The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.
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 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.
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 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,
18 For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.
Because In much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.
