Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of the preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
THE WORDS OF the Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity.
Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 What profit hath a man of all his labor, which he taketh under the sun?
What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?
4 [One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
6 The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about to the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to its circuits.
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its circuit, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; to the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.
8 All things [are] full of labor; man cannot utter [it]: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
All things toil to 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 hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there [any] thing of which it may be said, See, this [is] new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Is there a thing whereof it is said: 'See, this is new'? — it hath been already, 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 them of former times; neither shall there be any remembrance of them of latter times that are to come, among those that shall come after.
12 I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I Koheleth have been 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 grievous labor hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised with it.
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; it is a sore task that God hath 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 my own heart, saying, Lo, I have come to great estate, and have gained more wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in Jerusalem: and my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
I spoke with my own heart, saying: 'Lo, I have gotten great wisdom, more also than all that were before me over Jerusalem'; yea, my heart hath 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 vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
