Eccl 1
1
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3
What profit has man of all his labor wherein he labors under the sun?
4
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth abides for ever.
5
The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to its place where it arises.
6
The wind goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; it turns about continually
in its course, and the wind returns again to its circuits.
7
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place where the rivers
go, there they go again.
8
All things are full of 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.
10
Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it has been long ago, in
the ages which were before us.
11
There is no remembrance of the former [generations]; neither shall there be any remembrance
of the latter [generations] that are to come, among those that shall come after.
12
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is
done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God has 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 striving after wind.
15
That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be
numbered.
16
I communed with mine own hear, saying, Behold, I have gotten me great wisdom above
all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart has had great experience of wisdom
and knowledge.
17
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.