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

Words of a preacher, 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, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole vanity.

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

What advantage to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun?

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

A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing.

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

Also, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there.

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.

Going unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned.

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 streams are going unto the sea, and the sea is not full; unto a place whither the streams are going, thither they are turning back to go.

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 these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor filled is the ear from 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.

What that which hath been? it that which is, and what that which hath been done? it that which is done, and there is not an entirely 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.

There is a thing of which saith: `See this, it new!' already it hath been in the ages that 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 not a remembrance of former; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.

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

I, a preacher, have been 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 have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.

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 have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole vanity and vexation of spirit!

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

A crooked thing is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to 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 -- I spake with my heart, saying, `I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly 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 give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this vexation of spirit;

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

for, in abundance of wisdom abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.'