The words of the Preacher
, the son
of David
, king
in Jerusalem
.
Vanity of vanities
, saith
the Preacher
, vanity
of vanities
; all is vanity
.
What profit hath a man
of all his labour
which he taketh
under the sun
?
One generation passeth away
, and another generation
cometh
: but the earth
abideth
for ever
.
The sun also ariseth
, and the sun
goeth down
, and hasteth
to his place
where he arose
.
The wind goeth
toward the south
, and turneth about
unto the north
; it whirleth about continually
, and the wind
returneth again
according to his circuits
.
All the rivers run
into the sea
; yet the sea
is not full
; unto the place
from whence the rivers
come
, thither they return
again
.
All things are full of labour
; man
cannot
utter
it : the eye
is not satisfied
with seeing
, nor the ear
filled
with hearing
.
The thing that hath 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
.
Is there any thing
whereof it may be said
, See
, this is new
? it hath been already
of old time
, which was before
us.
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
.
I the Preacher was king
over Israel
in Jerusalem
.
And I gave my heart
to seek
and search out
by wisdom
concerning all things that are done
under heaven
: this sore
travail
hath God
given
to the sons
of man
to be exercised
therewith.
I have seen all the works
that are done
under the sun
; and, behold, all is vanity
and vexation
of spirit
.
That which is crooked cannot
be made straight
: and that which is wanting
cannot
be numbered
.
I communed with mine own heart
, saying
, Lo, I am come to great estate
, and have gotten
more wisdom
than all they that have been before
me in Jerusalem
: yea, my heart
had great
experience
of wisdom
and knowledge
.
And I gave my heart
to know
wisdom
, and to know
madness
and folly
: I perceived
that this
also is vexation
of spirit
.
For in much wisdom
is much
grief
: and he that increaseth
knowledge
increaseth
sorrow
.