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,” says 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 does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

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

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

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

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

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 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 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. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow 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 weariness beyond uttering. 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 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 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 of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new?” It has been long ago, 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 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, 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.

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, 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 a chasing after wind.

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

That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

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 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 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.

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

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

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.