Ecclesiastes 1 — The Holy Bible

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

The Vanity of Life

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;

“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!”

What advantage does a man have in all his labor

In which he toils under the sun?

A generation comes and a generation goes,

But the earth stands forever.

The sun rises and the sun sets

And returns to its place.

The wind rises and goes toward the south

And swirls towards the north.

The wind whirls in a circular motion

And returns full circle.

All the rivers flow to the sea,

Yet the sea shall not be filled.

To the place where the rivers flow,

There they return again.

All words are wearisome,

And a man will not be able to say them.

Neither will the eye be satisfied with seeing,

Nor will the ear be filled with hearing.

What has been is what will be,

And what has been done is what will be done.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Who will speak and say,

“See, this is new”?

For it has already been in the ages

That have passed before us.

There is no remembrance of former things,

And indeed, there shall be no remembrance of later things

By the things that will come after that.

Futility of Man's Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 1, verse 12. I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. Ecclesiastes 1, verse 13. I gave my heart to seek out and to prepare myself in wisdom concerning all the things done under heaven; for God has given painful distraction to the sons of men to be occupied therewith. Ecclesiastes 1, verse 14. I beheld all the works done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and is the choice of one's spirit.

That which has become crooked cannot be made straight,

And what is lacking cannot be counted.

Ecclesiastes 1, verse 16. I spoke in my heart, saying, “Behold, I have become great, and have acquired wisdom beyond all before me in Jerusalem; and my heart has experienced much wisdom and knowledge.” Ecclesiastes 1, verse 17. I gave my heart to know wisdom and knowledge, to learn proverbs and understanding. And this, too, was waywardness of spirit.

For in the abundance of wisdom

There is abundance of knowledge,

And he who increases knowledge will increase suffering.