Chapter 1
1 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 ."
3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun ?
4 One generation goes , and another generation comes ; but the earth remains forever .
5 The sun also rises , and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises .
6 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 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 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing , nor the ear filled with hearing .
9 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 Is there a thing of which it may be said , " Behold , ", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. this is new "? It has been long ago , in the ages which were before us .
11 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 .
13 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 " (Elohim). 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 behold , all is vanity and a chasing after wind .
15 That which is crooked can ’t be made straight ; and that which is lacking can ’t be counted .
16 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 I applied my heart to know wisdom , and to know madness and folly . I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind .
18 For in much wisdom is much grief ; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow .