Ecclesiastes 1
1 THE WORDS OF the Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
The words of Koheleth, the son of David, the king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth, vanity of vanities: all is vanity.
3 What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?
What profit hath a man of all his toil which he toil-eth under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth endureth for ever.
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and striving to reach his place he riseth again there.
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.
Going toward the south, and turning round toward the north, the wind moveth round about continually; and around its circles doth the wind return again.
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 never full: unto the place whither the rivers go, thither will they continue to go.
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 weary themselves [constantly]; man can not utter them: the eye is never 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.
That which hath been, is the same which will be; and that which hath been done, is the same which will be done; and there is nothing new 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.
If there be any thing whereof it is said, See, this is new: It hath already been in olden times which were 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.
[Only] there is no recollection of former [generations]; and also of the later ones, that are to be—of these [likewise] there will be no recollection with those that will be still later.
12 I Koheleth have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I Koheleth 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 directed my heart to inquire and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this is an evil employment which God hath given to the sons of man to busy themselves 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 saw all the deeds that are done under the sun: and, behold, all is vanity and a torture of the spirit.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
What is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is defective 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 spoke with my own heart, saying, Lo, I have truly obtained greater and more wisdom than all those who have been before me over Jerusalem: yea, my heart had seen much 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 directed my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; [but] I have perceived that this also is a torture of the spirit.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
For where there is much wisdom there is much vexation: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth pain.
