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

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

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

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

3 W hat profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?

4 O ne generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.

One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides 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 arose.

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 toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit.

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, 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 full of labor; Man cannot express 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.

That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, 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 anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times 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 things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after. The Grief of Wisdom

12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I, the Preacher, was 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 set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

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 indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the 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 lacking cannot be numbered.

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 communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great 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 set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

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

For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.