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, saith 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 hath a man by all his labor with which he wearieth himself under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth endureth for ever.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; while the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and striving to reach his place he riseth again there.
The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteneth to the place whence it 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 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 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; to the place whence the rivers come, thither they return.
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 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 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 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 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 of which one may say, “Behold, this is new”? It was long ago, in the times which 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 former things, and of things that are to come there shall be no remembrance to those who live afterwards.
12 I Koheleth was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I, the Preacher, was king over 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 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 saw all the deeds that are done under the sun: and, behold, all is vanity and a torture of the spirit.
I saw all the things which are done under the sun; and, behold, it was all vanity, and striving after wind.
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 wanting 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 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 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 mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after wind.
18 For where there is much wisdom there is much vexation: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth pain.
For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
