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

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

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

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities! all is vanity.

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

What profit hath man of all his labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun?

4 O ne generation goes and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

generation passeth away, and generation cometh, but the earth standeth for ever.

5 T he sun also rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.

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

6 T he 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.

The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about towards the north: it turneth about continually, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

7 A ll 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.

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

8 A ll 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.

All things are full of toil; none can express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 T he 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.

That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which will be done: and there is nothing new under the sun.

10 I s 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.

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

11 T here 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.

There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be remembrance of things that are to come with those who shall live afterwards.

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

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

13 A nd 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.

And I applied my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this grievous occupation hath God given to the children of men to weary themselves therewith.

14 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.

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

15 W hat is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is defective and lacking cannot be counted.

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

16 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.

I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge.

17 A nd 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.

And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind.

18 F or in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.