Ecclesiastes 1
1 The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.
These are the words of the Teacher, the descendant of David and king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.
The Teacher says this. “Like a vapor of mist, like a breeze in the wind, everything vanishes, leaving many questions.
3 What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?
What profit does mankind gain from all the work that they labor at under the sun?
4 One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.
One generation goes, and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
5 The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.
The sun rises, and it goes down and hurries back to the place where it rises again.
6 The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.
The wind blows south and circles around to the north, always going around along its pathway and coming back again.
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 flow into the sea, but the sea is never full. To the place where the rivers go, there they go 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.
Everything becomes wearisome, and no one can explain it. The eye is not satisfied by what it sees, nor is the ear fulfilled by what it hears.
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.
Whatever has been is what will be, and whatever has been done is what will be done. There is nothing new 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 anything about which it may be said, 'Look, this is new'? Whatever exists has already existed for a long time, during ages which came long 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.
No one seems to remember the things that happened in ancient times, and the things that happened much later and that will happen in the future will not likely be remembered either.”
12 I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:
I am the Teacher, and I 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)
I applied my mind to study and to search out by wisdom everything that is done under heaven. That search is a burdensome task that God has given to the children of mankind to be busy with.
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 deeds that are done under the sun, and look, they all amount to vapor and chasing the wind.
15 That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.
The twisted cannot be straightened! The missing cannot be counted!
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 to my heart saying, “Look, I have acquired greater wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My mind has seen great 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.
So I applied my heart to know wisdom and also madness and folly. I came to understand that this also was an attempt to shepherd the wind.
18 For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.
For in the abundance of wisdom there is much frustration, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
