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 a man by all his labor with which he wearieth himself 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; while the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.
The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteneth to the place whence it 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 goeth toward the south, and turneth about to the north; round and round goeth the wind, and returneth 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; to the place whence the rivers come, thither they return.
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 words become weary; man cannot 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.
The thing that hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been 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 of which one may say, “Behold, this is new”? It was long ago, in the times 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, and of things that are to come there shall be no remembrance to those who live afterwards.
12 I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel at 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 mind to seek and to search out with wisdom concerning all things which are done under heaven; an evil business, which God hath given to the sons of men, in which to employ themselves.
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 things which are done under the sun; and, behold, it was all vanity, and striving after 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 my heart, saying, “Behold, I have gained more and greater wisdom than all who have been before me at Jerusalem; yea, my mind hath seen much 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 mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after 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.
