Ecclesiastes 1
1. The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2. Vanity of vanities, saith * the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh * under the sun?
4. One generation passeth away * , and another generation cometh * : but the earth abideth * for ever.
5. The sun also ariseth * , and the sun goeth down * , and hasteth * to his place where he arose * .
6. The wind goeth * toward the south, and turneth about * unto the north;it whirleth about continually * , and the wind returneth again * according to his circuits.
7. All the rivers run * into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come * , thither they return * again * .
8. All things are full of labour; man cannot * utter * it: the eye is not satisfied * with seeing * , nor the ear filled * with hearing * .
9. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done * is that which shall be done * : and there is no new thing under the sun.
10. Is there any thing whereof it may be said * , See * , this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
11. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
12. I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13. And I gave * my heart to seek * and search out * by wisdom concerning all things that are done * under heaven:this sore travail hath God given * to the sons of man to be exercised * therewith.
14. I have seen * all the works that are done * under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15. That which is crooked * cannot * be made straight * : and that which is wanting cannot * be numbered * .
16. I communed * with mine own heart,saying * , Lo, I am come to great estate * , and have gotten * more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem:yea, my heart had great * experience * of wisdom and knowledge.
17. And I gave * my heart to know * wisdom, and to know * madness and folly: I perceived * that this also is vexation of spirit.
18. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth * knowledge increaseth * sorrow.
