Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of Koheleth, the son of David, the 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 a man of all his toil which he toil-eth under the sun?
What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth endureth for ever.
One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides for ever.
5 The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and striving to reach his place he riseth again there.
The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastes to his place where he arose.
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.
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.
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 the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return 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.
All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with 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.
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.
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.
Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it has been already of old time, which was 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 former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
12 I Koheleth was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in 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 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.
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 the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is defective cannot be numbered.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is lacking cannot be numbered.
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 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.
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 gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18 For where there is much wisdom there is much vexation: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth pain.
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.
