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, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun?
What profit hath a man by all his labor with which he wearieth himself under the sun?
4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides for ever.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; while the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastes to his place where he arose.
The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteneth to the place whence it arose.
6 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.
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 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 whence the rivers come, thither they return.
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 words become weary; man cannot express it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 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.
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 any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it has been already of old time, which was 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 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 former things, and of things that are to come there shall be no remembrance to those who live afterwards.
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel at 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 has God given to the sons of man 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 vexation of spirit.
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 lacking 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 got 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 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 gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
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 grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
