Ecclesiastes
or, The Preacher
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
does man gain from
all his labor
in which he labors
under the sun?
4 One
generation goes,
and another
generation comes; but
the earth remains
forever.
5 The
sun also rises,
and the sun goes
down, and hurries to its
place where it
rises.
6 The
wind goes toward
the south, and
turns around to
the north. It
turns around
continually as it
goes, and the
wind returns again
to its courses.
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.
8 All
things are full
of weariness beyond uttering.
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
of which it
may be said, “Behold,
this is new”?
It has been
long ago, 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,
among those that
shall come after.
12 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.
14 I
have seen all
the works that
are done under
the sun; and
behold, all is
vanity and a
chasing after wind.
15 That which
is crooked can’t
be made straight;
and that which is
lacking can’t be
counted.
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.”
17 I
applied my heart
to know wisdom,
and to know
madness and folly.
I perceived that
this also was
a chasing after
wind.
18 For
in much wisdom
is much grief;
and he who
increases knowledge
increases sorrow.