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

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

3 W hat profit has a man from all his labor In 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 passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides 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 arose.

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

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

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, 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 full of labor; Man cannot express 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 hat which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, 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 anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times 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 things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after. The Grief of Wisdom

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, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 A nd 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.

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

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

16 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.”

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 set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

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 grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

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