Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of Kohelet, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says Kohelet; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, 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 man of all his labour wherewith 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, but the earth standeth 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 hasteth to its place where it ariseth.
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.
The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about towards the north: it turneth about continually, 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 are full of toil; none can express 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 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.
Is there a thing whereof it may be 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, amongst those that shall come after.
There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be remembrance of things that are to come with those who shall live afterwards.
12 I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I, the Preacher, 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 applied my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this grievous occupation hath God given to the children of men to weary 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 have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the 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 communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much 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 the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the 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.
