1

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

2

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

3

What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

4

One generation goeth, and another generation cometh but the earth abideth for ever.

5

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.

6

The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

7

All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.

8

All things are full of weariness man cannot utter [it]: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9

That which hath been is that which shall be and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10

Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us.

11

There is no remembrance of the former [generations] neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter [generations] that are to come, among those that shall come after.

12

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

14

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

15

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

16

I communed with mine own hear, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

18

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