Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh 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: but 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 arose.
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 whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his 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 from whence the rivers come, thither they return 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 are full of labour; 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 The thing that hath 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.
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 any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was 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 former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with 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 the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man 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 vexation of spirit.
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 communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart 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 gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
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 grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
