Eccl 1
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THE WORDS OF the Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
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Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
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What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?
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One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth
for ever.
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The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
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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.
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All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the
rivers go, thither they go again.
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All things toil to weariness; man cannot utter it, the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
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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.
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Is there a thing whereof it is said: 'See, this is new'?--it hath been already, in
the ages which were before us.
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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.
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I Koheleth have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
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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.
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I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity
and a striving after wind.
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That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be
numbered.
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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.
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And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly--I perceived
that this also was a striving after wind.
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For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.