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

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

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

Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities! All is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and vainglory).

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

What profit does man have left from all his toil at which he toils under the sun?

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

One generation goes and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

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

The sun also rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.

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

The wind goes to the south and circles about to the north; it circles and circles about continually, and on its circuit the wind returns again.

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

All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place from which the rivers come, to there and from there they return again.

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

All things are weary with toil and all words are feeble; man cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 T he 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.

The thing that has been—it is what will be again, and that which has been done is that which will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun.

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

Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been, in the vast ages of time which were before us.

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

There is no remembrance of former happenings or men, neither will there be any remembrance of happenings of generations that are to come by those who are to come after them.

12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 A nd 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.

And I applied myself by heart and mind to seek and search out by wisdom all human activity under heaven. It is a miserable business which God has given to the sons of man with which to busy themselves.

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

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

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

What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is defective and lacking cannot be counted.

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.

I entered into counsel with my own mind, saying, Behold, I have acquired great wisdom, yes, more than all who have been over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

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

And I gave my mind to know wisdom and to discern madness and folly; I perceived that this also is a searching after wind and a feeding on it.

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

For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.