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, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 W hat profit hath man of all his labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun?

What profit does a man have of all his labour which he takes under the sun?

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

¶ One generation passes away, and another generation comes, but the earth abides for ever.

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

The sun arises, and the sun goes down, and with desire returns to his place from which he arises again.

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

The wind goes toward the south and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to its circuits.

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; unto the place from whence the rivers come, there they return again.

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

All things are full of labour; more than man can express; 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 will be done: and there is nothing new under the sun.

¶ The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.

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

Is there any thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? it has been already of old time which was before us.

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

There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

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 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.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven (this sore travail God has given to the sons of man that they be occupied in it).

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

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 T hat which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is lacking cannot be numbered.

16 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.

I communed with my own heart, saying, Behold, I am come to great estate and have gotten more wisdom than all those that have been before me in Jerusalem; and my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17 A nd 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.

And I gave my heart to know wisdom and knowledge and to know folly and those who are mad; I learned in the end that this also is vexation of spirit.

18 F or in much wisdom is much vexation, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.