Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of Kohelet, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
The words of Koheleth, the son of David, the king in Jerusalem.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says Kohelet; “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 labour in which he labours under the sun?
What profit hath a man of all his toil which he toil-eth under the sun?
4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth endureth for ever.
5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and striving to reach his place he riseth again there.
6 The wind goes towards the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
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.
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 never full: unto the place whither the rivers go, thither will they continue to go.
8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
All things weary themselves [constantly]; man can not utter them: the eye is never 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 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.
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.
If there be any thing whereof it is said, See, this is new: It hath already been in olden times 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, amongst those that shall come after.
[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.
12 I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I Koheleth was 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 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.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun: and, behold, all is vanity and a torture of the spirit.
15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
What is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is defective 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 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.
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 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.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
For where there is much wisdom there is much vexation: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth pain.
