Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of the preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, 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 labor, which he taketh under the sun?
What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
4 [One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
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 goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
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. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow 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 are full of weariness beyond uttering. 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 has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing 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 of which it may be said, "Look, this is new?" It has been long ago, 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 memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
12 I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I, the Preacher, was 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.
I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
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 look, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
15 [That which is] crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
That which is crooked can't be made straight; and that which is lacking can't be counted.
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 said to myself, "Look, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has 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.
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
18 For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
