Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of Koheleth, the son of David, the king in Jerusalem.
The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, the king of Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth, vanity of vanities: all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes said: Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity!
3 What profit hath a man of all his toil which he toil-eth under the sun?
What more does a man have from all his labor, as he labors under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth endureth for ever.
A generation passes away, and a generation arrives. But the earth stands forever.
5 The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and striving to reach his place he riseth again there.
The sun rises and sets; it returns to its place, and from there, being born again,
6 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.
it circles through the south, and arcs toward the north. The spirit continues on, illuminating everything in its circuit, and turning again in its cycle.
7 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.
All rivers enter into the sea, and the sea does not overflow. To the place from which the rivers go out, they return, so that they may flow again.
8 All things weary themselves [constantly]; man can not utter them: the eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Such things are difficult; man is not able to explain them with words. The eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor is the ear fulfilled by hearing.
9 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.
What is it that has existed? The same shall exist in the future. What is it that has been done? The same shall continue to be done.
10 If there be any thing whereof it is said, See, this is new: It hath already been in olden times which were before us.
There is nothing new under the sun. Neither is anyone able to say: “Behold, this is new!” For it has already been brought forth in the ages that were before us.
11 [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.
There is no remembrance of the former things. Indeed, neither shall there be any record of past things in the future, for those who will exist at the very end.
12 I Koheleth was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I, Ecclesiastes, was king of Israel at Jerusalem.
13 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.
And I was determined in my mind to seek and to investigate wisely, concerning all that is done under the sun. God has given this very difficult task to the sons of men, so that they may be occupied by it.
14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun: and, behold, all is vanity and a torture of the spirit.
I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is defective cannot be numbered.
The perverse are unwilling to be corrected, and the number of the foolish is boundless.
16 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.
I have spoken in my heart, saying: “Behold, I have achieved greatness, and I have surpassed all the wise who were before me in Jerusalem.” And my mind has contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
17 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.
And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit.
18 For where there is much wisdom there is much vexation: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth pain.
Because of this, with much wisdom there is also much anger. And whoever adds knowledge, also adds hardship.
