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 man from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.
One generation goes, and another generation comes, but the earth abides forever.
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 hastens to its place where it arises.
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 around to the north. It turns around continually in its course, and the wind returns again to its 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. To the place from where the rivers come, there they go 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 weariness, 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.
That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been 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 a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has been long ago, in the ages 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.
There is no remembrance of the former things, nor shall there be any remembrance of the latter that are to come, among those who 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 applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven. It is a great tribulation that God has given to the sons of men 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 a striving after wind.
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 wanting 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 my own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten for me great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yea, my heart has 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 applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
