Ecclesiastes 1
1 THE WORDS OF the Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?
What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.
One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides for ever.
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastes to his place where he arose.
6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its circuit, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
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 rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.
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 toil to weariness; man cannot utter it, the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear 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 That which hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.
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 a thing whereof it is said: 'See, this is new'? — it hath been already, in the ages which were before us.
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 remembrance of them of former times; neither shall there be any remembrance of them of latter times that are to come, among those 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 Koheleth have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; it is a sore task that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
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 have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
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 cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is lacking cannot be numbered.
16 I spoke with my own heart, saying: 'Lo, I have gotten great wisdom, more also than all that were before me over Jerusalem'; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom 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 applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly — I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
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 much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.
