Ecclesiastes 1

1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

2All is to no purpose, said the Preacher, all the ways of man are to no purpose.

2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

3What is a man profited by all his work which he does under the sun?

3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

4One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.

4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

4One generation goes and another comes; but the earth is for ever.

4One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.

5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.

5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

5The sun comes up and the sun goes down, and goes quickly back to the place where he came up.

5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.

6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

6The wind goes to the south, turning back again to the north; circling round for ever.

6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.

7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

7All the rivers go down to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the rivers go, there they go again.

7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.

8All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

8All things are full of weariness; man may not give their story: the eye has never enough of its seeing, or the ear of its hearing.

8All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

9The 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.

9That which has been, is that which is to be, and that which has been done, is that which will be done, and there is no new thing under the sun.

9That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us.

10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

10Is there anything of which men say, See, this is new? It has been in the old time which was before us.

10Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us.

11There 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.

11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

11There is no memory of those who have gone before, and of those who come after there will be no memory for those who are still to come after them.

11There 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.

12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13And 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 hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

13And 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.

13And I gave my heart to searching out in wisdom all things which are done under heaven: it is a hard thing which God has put on the sons of men to do.

13And 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 hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

14I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

15That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

15That which is bent may not be made straight, and that which is not there may not be numbered.

15That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

16I 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.

16I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem--yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.

16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

17And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.

17And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

18For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

18Because in much wisdom is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow.

18For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.