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 man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

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

4 O ne generation goeth, 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 its place where it ariseth.

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 turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its 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 whither the rivers go, thither they go 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 weariness; 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 hat 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.

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 a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were 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 the former generations; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter generations that are to come, among 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 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.

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 a striving after wind.

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 hear, 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.

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

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.