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, says 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 has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun?
4 One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.
One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides for ever.
5 The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.
The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastes to his place where he arose.
6 The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.
The wind goes toward the south, and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according 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 is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither 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 labour; man cannot utter 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.
The thing that has 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 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 any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it has been already of old time, which was 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 any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
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 gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail has God given to the sons of man to be exercised 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 vexation of spirit.
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 lacking 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 am come to great estate, and have got 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 gaue mine heart to knowe wisdome and knowledge, madnes and foolishnes: I knew also that this is a vexation of the 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 For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.
