Ecclesiastes 1

¹The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.

²Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.

³What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?

⁴One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.

⁵The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.

⁶The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.

⁷All the riuers goe into the sea, yet the sea is not full: for the riuers goe vnto ye place, whence they returne, and goe.

⁸All things are full of labour: man cannot vtter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the eare filled with hearing.

⁹What is it that hath bene? that that shalbe: and what is it that hath bene done? that which shalbe done: and there is no newe thing vnder the sunne.

¹⁰Is there any thing, whereof one may say, Beholde this, it is newe? it hath bene already in the olde time that was before vs.

¹¹There is no memorie of the former, neither shall there be a remembrance of the latter that shalbe, with them that shall come after.

¹²I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:

¹³And I haue giuen mine heart to search and finde out wisdome by all things that are done vnder the heauen: (this sore trauaile hath GOD giuen to the sonnes of men, to humble them thereby)

¹⁴I haue considered all the workes that are done vnder the sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.

¹⁵That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.

¹⁶I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold, I am become great, and excell in wisdome all them that haue bene before me in Ierusalem: and mine heart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge.

¹⁷And I gaue mine heart to knowe wisdome and knowledge, madnes and foolishnes: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.

¹⁸For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.

Ecclesiastes 1

¹The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

²Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

³What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

⁴One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

⁵The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

⁶The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

⁷All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

⁸All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

⁹The 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.

¹⁰Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

¹¹There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

¹²I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³And 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.

¹⁴I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

¹⁵That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

¹⁶I 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.

¹⁷And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

¹⁸For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.