Ecclesiastes 1 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[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.

Footnotes

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

King James Version

^[1] The wordsH1697 of the Preacher,H6953 the sonH1121 of David,H1732 kingH4428 in Jerusalem.H3389 ^[2] VanityH1892 of vanities,H1892 saithH559(QalPerf) the Preacher,H6953 vanityH1892 of vanities;H1892 all [is] vanity.H1892 ^[3] What profitH3504 hath a manH120 of all his labourH5999 which he takethH5998(QalImpf) under the sun?H8121 ^[4] [One] generationH1755 passeth away,H1980(QalActPtc) and [another] generationH1755 cometh:H935(QalActPtc/Ketiv) but the earthH776 abidethH5975(QalActPtc) for ever.H5769 ^[5] The sunH8121 also ariseth,H2224(QalPerf) and the sunH8121 goeth down,H935(QalPerf) and hastethH7602(QalActPtc) to his placeH4725 where he arose.H2224(QalActPtc) ^[6] The windH7307 goethH1980(QalActPtc) toward the south,H1864 and turneth aboutH5437(QalActPtc) unto the north;H6828 it whirleth about continually,H1980(QalActPtc) and the windH7307 returneth againH7725(QalPerf) according to his circuits.H5439 ^[7] All the riversH5158 runH1980(QalActPtc) into the sea;H3220 yet the seaH3220 [is] not full;H4392 unto the placeH4725 from whence the riversH5158 come,H1980(QalActPtc) thither they returnH7725(QalActPtc) again.H3212(QalInf) ^[8] All thingsH1697 [are] full of labour;H3023 manH376 cannotH3201(QalImpf) utterH1696(PielInf) [it]: the eyeH5869 is not satisfiedH7646(QalImpf) with seeing,H7200(QalInf) nor the earH241 filledH4390(NiphImpf) with hearing.H8085(QalInf) ^[9] The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is doneH6213(NiphPerf) [is] that which shall be done:H6213(NiphImpf) and [there is] no newH2319 [thing] under the sun.H8121 ^[10] Is thereH3426 [any] thingH1697 whereof it may be said,H559(QalImpf) See,H7200(QalImpv) this [is] new?H2319 it hath been alreadyH3528 of old time,H5769 which was beforeH6440 us. ^[11] [There is] no remembranceH2146 of formerH7223 [things]; neither shall there be [any] remembranceH2146 of [things] that are to comeH314 with [those] that shall come after.H314 ^[12] I the PreacherH6953 was kingH4428 over IsraelH3478 in Jerusalem.H3389 ^[13] And I gaveH5414(QalPerf) my heartH3820 to seekH1875(QalInf) and search outH8446(QalInf) by wisdomH2451 concerning all [things] that are doneH6213(NiphPerf) under heaven:H8064 this soreH7451 travailH6045 hath GodH430 givenH5414(QalPerf) to the sonsH1121 of manH120 to be exercisedH6031(QalInf) therewith. ^[14] I have seenH7200(QalPerf) all the worksH4639 that are doneH6213(NiphPerf) under the sun;H8121 and, behold, all [is] vanityH1892 and vexationH7469 of spirit.H7307 ^[15] [That which is] crookedH5791(PualPtc) cannotH3201(QalImpf) be made straight:H8626(QalInf) and that which is wantingH2642 cannotH3201(QalImpf) be numbered.H4487(NiphInf) ^[16] I communedH1696(PielPerf) with mine own heart,H3820 saying,H559(QalInf) Lo, I am come to great estate,H1431(HiphPerf) and have gottenH3254(HiphPerf) more wisdomH2451 than all [they] that have been beforeH6440 me in Jerusalem:H3389 yea, my heartH3820 had greatH7235(HiphInf) experienceH7200(QalPerf) of wisdomH2451 and knowledge.H1847 ^[17] And I gaveH5414(QalImpf) my heartH3820 to knowH3045(QalInf) wisdom,H2451 and to knowH3045(QalInf) madnessH1947 and folly:H5531 I perceivedH3045(QalPerf) that thisH1571 also is vexationH7475 of spirit.H7307 ^[18] For in muchH7230 wisdomH2451 [is] muchH7230 grief:H3708 and he that increasethH3254(HiphImpf) knowledgeH1847 increasethH3254(HiphImpf) sorrow.H4341

Byzantine Greek New Testament

Not available in Byzantine Greek New Testament