Ecclesiastes 1 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Ecclesiastes 1 (WEBP)

[1] The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
[2] “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
[3] What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
[4] One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
[5] The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
[6] The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
[7] All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
[8] All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
[9] That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.
[10] Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
[11] There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
[12] I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
[13] I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
[14] I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
[15] That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
[16] I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
[17] I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
[18] For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1:10 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
Ecclesiastes 1:13 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Ecclesiastes 1 (KJVS)

[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 a man of all his labour which he taketh () under the sun ?
[4] [One] generation passeth away (), and [another] generation cometh () (8676) (): but the earth abideth () for ever .
[5] The sun also ariseth (), and the sun goeth down (), and hasteth () to his place where he arose ().
[6] 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 .
[7] 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 ().
[8] All things [are] full of labour ; man cannot () utter () [it]: the eye is not satisfied () with seeing (), nor the ear filled () with hearing ().
[9] 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 .
[10] Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said (), See (), this [is] new ? it hath been already of old time , which was before us.
[11] [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 .
[12] I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem .
[13] 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.
[14] I have seen () all the works that are done () under the sun ; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit .
[15] [That which is] crooked () cannot () be made straight (): and that which is wanting cannot () be numbered ().
[16] 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 .
[17] And I gave () my heart to know () wisdom , and to know () madness and folly : I perceived () that this also is vexation of spirit .
[18] For in much wisdom [is] much grief : and he that increaseth () knowledge increaseth () sorrow .

Young’s Literal Translation

Ecclesiastes 1 (YLT)

[1] Words of a preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
[2] Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole is vanity.
[3] What advantage is to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun?
[4] A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing.
[5] Also, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there.
[6] Going unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned.
[7] All the streams are going unto the sea, and the sea is not full; unto a place whither the streams are going, thither they are turning back to go.
[8] All these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor filled is the ear from hearing.
[9] What is that which hath been? it is that which is, and what is that which hath been done? it is that which is done, and there is not an entirely new thing under the sun.
[10] There is a thing of which one saith: ‘See this, it is new!’ already it hath been in the ages that were before us!
[11] There is not a remembrance of former generations; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.
[12] I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
[13] And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It is a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.
[14] I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit!
[15] A crooked thing one is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.
[16] I-I spake with my heart, saying, ‘I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.
[17] And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this is vexation of spirit;
[18] for, in abundance of wisdom is abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.’