Words of the Preacher Regarding Vanity
1 The words of the [1]Preacher, the son of David king in Jerusalem.
2 [2]Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher: vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 What remaineth unto man in all his [3]travail, which he suffereth under the sun?
4 One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth [4]forever.
5 The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and draweth to his place where he riseth.
6 The [5]wind goeth toward the South, and compasseth toward the North: the wind goeth round about, and returneth by his circuits.
7 All the rivers go into the sea, yet the sea is not full: for the rivers go unto the place [6]whence they return, and go.
8 All things are full of labor: man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 [7]What is it that hath been? that that shall be: and what is it that hath been done? that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there anything, whereof one may say, Behold this, it is new? it hath been already in the old time that was before us.
11 There is no memory of the former, neither shalt there be a remembrance of the latter that shall be, with them that shall come after.
Vanity of Striving After Wisdom
12 ¶ [8]I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem:
13 And I have given mine heart to search and find out wisdom by all things that are done under the heaven: (this sore travail hath God given to the sons of men, [9]to humble them thereby.)
14 I have considered all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, and vexation of the spirit.
15 That which is [10]crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be numbered.
16 I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold, I am become great, and excel in wisdom all them that have been before me in Jerusalem: and mine heart hath seen much wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I gave mine heart to know wisdom and knowledge, [11]madness and foolishness: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.
18 For in the multitude of wisdom is much [12]grief: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.