Ecclesiastes 1
World English BibleTranslation
World English Bible
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
1THE WORDS OF the Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
2Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
3What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?
4One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.
5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
6The 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.
6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its circuit, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.
8All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
8All things toil to weariness; man cannot utter it, the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9That 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.
9That which hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.
10Is 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.
10Is there a thing whereof it is said: 'See, this is new'? — it hath been already, in the ages which were before us.
11There 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.
11There is no remembrance of them of former times; neither shall there be any remembrance of them of latter times that are to come, among those that shall come after.
12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
12I Koheleth have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13I 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.
13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; it is a sore task that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
15That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16I 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.”
16I spoke with my own heart, saying: 'Lo, I have gotten great wisdom, more also than all that were before me over Jerusalem'; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
17And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly — I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
18For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
18For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
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