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, saith 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 hath a man by all his labor with which he wearieth himself 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; while the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteneth to the place whence it 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 goeth toward the south, and turneth about to the north; round and round goeth the wind, and returneth 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 whence the rivers come, thither they return.
8 All things toil to weariness; man cannot utter it, the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear 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 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 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 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 of which one may say, “Behold, this is new”? It was long ago, in the 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.
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 Koheleth have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel at 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 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 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 things which are done under the sun; and, behold, it was all vanity, and 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 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 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 mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
