Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
THE WORDS OF the Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?
4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
6 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.
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 where the rivers flow, there they flow 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 weariness beyond uttering. 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 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.
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 a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were 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 memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among 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 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.
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 a chasing after wind.
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 can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I said to myself, “Behold, 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.”
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 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
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 who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
