Ecclesiastes 1 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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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

  1. § 1:10 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
  2. § 1:13 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
King James Version
[1] The words H1697 of the Preacher, H6953 the son H1121 of David, H1732 king H4428 in Jerusalem. H3389 [2] Vanity H1892 of vanities, H1892 saith H559 the Preacher, H6953 vanity H1892 of vanities; H1892 all is vanity. H1892 [3] What H4100 profit H3504 hath a man H120 of all his labour H5999 which he taketh H5998 under the sun? H8121 [4] One generation H1755 passeth away, H1980 and another generation H1755 cometh: H935 H935 but the earth H776 abideth H5975 for ever. H5769 [5] The sun H8121 also ariseth, H2224 and the sun H8121 goeth down, H935 and hasteth H7602§ to his place H4725 where he arose. H2224 [6] The wind H7307 goeth H1980 toward the south, H1864 and turneth about H5437 unto H413 the north; H6828 it whirleth about continually, H1980 and the wind H7307 returneth again H7725 according to his circuits. H5439 [7] All H3605 the rivers H5158 run H1980 into the sea; H3220 yet the sea H3220 is not full; H4392 unto H413 the place H4725 from whence the rivers H5158 come, H1980 thither they return H7725 again. H3212§ [8] All H3605 things H1697 are full of labour; H3023 man H376 cannot H3201 utter H1696 it: the eye H5869 is not satisfied H7646 with seeing, H7200 nor the ear H241 filled H4390 with hearing. H8085 [9] The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done H6213 is that which shall be done: H6213 and there is no new H2319 thing under the sun. H8121 [10] Is there H3426 any thing H1697 whereof it may be said, H559 See, H7200 this is new? H2319 it hath been already H3528 of old time, H5769 which H834 was before H6440 us. [11] There is no remembrance H2146 of former H7223 things; neither shall there be any remembrance H2146 of things that are to come H314 with those that shall come after. H314

The Vanity of Knowledge

[12] I the Preacher H6953 was king H4428 over H5921 Israel H3478 in Jerusalem. H3389 [13] And I gave H5414 H853 my heart H3820 to seek H1875 and search out H8446 by wisdom H2451 concerning all things that are done H6213 under heaven: H8064 this sore H7451 travail H6045 hath God H430 given H5414 to the sons H1121 of man H120 to be exercised H6031 therewith.§ [14] I have seen H7200 all H3605 the works H4639 that are done H6213 under the sun; H8121 and, behold, all is vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit. H7307 [15] That which is crooked H5791 cannot H3201 be made straight: H8626 and that which is wanting H2642§ cannot H3201 be numbered. H4487 [16] I communed H1696 with H5973 mine own heart, H3820 saying, H559 Lo, I am come to great estate, H1431 and have gotten H3254 more wisdom H2451 than all they that have been before H6440 me in Jerusalem: H3389 yea, my heart H3820 had great H7235 experience H7200§ of wisdom H2451 and knowledge. H1847 [17] And I gave H5414 my heart H3820 to know H3045 wisdom, H2451 and to know H3045 madness H1947 and folly: H5531 I perceived H3045 that H1571 this H2088 also is vexation H7475 of spirit. H7307 [18] For H3588 in much H7230 wisdom H2451 is much H7230 grief: H3708 and he that increaseth H3254 knowledge H1847 increaseth H3254 sorrow. H4341

Footnotes

  1. § 1:5 Heb. panteth
  2. § 1:7 Heb. return to go
  3. § 1:13 Or, to afflict them
  4. § 1:15 Heb. defect
  5. § 1:16 Heb. had seen much
Septuaginta
[1] Ῥήματα G4487 Ἐκκλησιαστοῦ υἱοῦ G5207 Δαυιδ G1138 βασιλέως G935 Ισραηλ G2474 ἐν G1722 Ιερουσαλημ. G2419 [2] Ματαιότης G3153 ματαιοτήτων, G3153 εἶπεν G2036 ὁ G3588 Ἐκκλησιαστής, ματαιότης G3153 ματαιοτήτων, G3153 τὰ G3588 πάντα G3956 ματαιότης. G3153 [3] Τίς G5101 περισσεία G4050 τῷ G3588 ἀνθρώπῳ G444 ἐν G1722 παντὶ G3956 μόχθῳ G3449 αὐτοῦ, G846 ᾧ G3739 μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον; G2246 [4] Γενεὰ G1074 πορεύεται G4198 καὶ G2532 γενεὰ G1074 ἔρχεται, G2064 καὶ G2532 ἡ G3588 γῆ G1093 εἰς G1519 τὸν G3588 αἰῶνα G165 ἕστηκεν. G2476 [5] Καὶ G2532 ἀνατέλλει G393 ὁ G3588 ἥλιος G2246 καὶ G2532 δύνει G1416 ὁ G3588 ἥλιος G2246 καὶ G2532 εἰς G1519 τὸν G3588 τόπον G5117 αὐτοῦ G846 ἕλκει· G1668 [6] ἀνατέλλων G393 αὐτὸς G846 ἐκεῖ G1563 πορεύεται G4198 πρὸς G4314 νότον G3558 καὶ G2532 κυκλοῖ G2944 πρὸς G4314 βορρᾶν· G1005 κυκλοῖ G2944 κυκλῶν, G2944 πορεύεται G4198 τὸ G3588 πνεῦμα, G4151 καὶ G2532 ἐπὶ G1909 κύκλους G2945 αὐτοῦ G846 ἐπιστρέφει G1994 τὸ G3588 πνεῦμα. G4151 [7] Πάντες G3956 οἱ G3588 χείμαρροι, G5493 πορεύονται G4198 εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 θάλασσαν, G2281 καὶ G2532 ἡ G3588 θάλασσα G2281 οὐκ G3756 ἔσται G2071 ἐμπιμπλαμένη· G1705 εἰς G1519 τόπον, G5117 οὗ G3739 οἱ G3588 χείμαρροι G5493 πορεύονται, G4198 ἐκεῖ G1563 αὐτοὶ G846 ἐπιστρέφουσιν G1994 τοῦ G3588 πορευθῆναι. G4198 [8] Πάντες G3956 οἱ G3588 λόγοι G3056 ἔγκοποι· οὐ G3756 δυνήσεται G1410 ἀνὴρ G435 τοῦ G3588 λαλεῖν, G2980 καὶ G2532 οὐκ G3756 ἐμπλησθήσεται G1705 ὀφθαλμὸς G3788 τοῦ G3588 ὁρᾶν, καὶ G2532 οὐ G3756 πληρωθήσεται G4137 οὖς G3775 ἀπὸ G575 ἀκροάσεως. [9] Τί G5101 τὸ G3588 γεγονός, G1096 αὐτὸ G846 τὸ G3588 γενησόμενον· G1096 καὶ G2532 τί G5101 τὸ G3588 πεποιημένον, G4160 αὐτὸ G846 τὸ G3588 ποιηθησόμενον· G4160 καὶ G2532 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 πᾶν G3956 πρόσφατον G4372 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον. G2246 [10] Ὃς G3739 λαλήσει G2980 καὶ G2532 ἐρεῖ G2046 Ἰδὲ G1492 τοῦτο G5124 καινόν G2537 ἐστιν, G2076 ἤδη G2235 γέγονεν G1096 ἐν G1722 τοῖς G3588 αἰῶσιν G165 τοῖς G3588 γενομένοις G1096 ἀπὸ G575 ἔμπροσθεν G1715 ἡμῶν. G2257 [11] Οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 μνήμη G3420 τοῖς G3588 πρώτοις, G4413 καί G2532 γε G1065 τοῖς G3588 ἐσχάτοις G2078 γενομένοις G1096 οὐκ G3756 ἔσται G2071 αὐτοῖς G846 μνήμη G3420 μετὰ G3326 τῶν G3588 γενησομένων G1096 εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 ἐσχάτην. G2078 [12] Ἐγὼ G1473 Ἐκκλησιαστὴς ἐγενόμην G1096 βασιλεὺς G935 ἐπὶ G1909 Ισραηλ G2474 ἐν G1722 Ιερουσαλημ· G2419 [13] καὶ G2532 ἔδωκα G1325 τὴν G3588 καρδίαν G2588 μου G3450 τοῦ G3588 ἐκζητῆσαι G1567 καὶ G2532 τοῦ G3588 κατασκέψασθαι ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 σοφίᾳ G4678 περὶ G4012 πάντων G3956 τῶν G3588 γινομένων G1096 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 οὐρανόν· G3772 ὅτι G3754 περισπασμὸν πονηρὸν G4190 ἔδωκεν G1325 ὁ G3588 θεὸς G2316 τοῖς G3588 υἱοῖς G5207 τοῦ G3588 ἀνθρώπου G444 τοῦ G3588 περισπᾶσθαι G4049 ἐν G1722 αὐτῷ. G846 [14] Εἶδον G1492 σὺν G4862 πάντα G3956 τὰ G3588 ποιήματα G4161 τὰ G3588 πεποιημένα G4160 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον, G2246 καὶ G2532 ἰδοὺ G2400 τὰ G3588 πάντα G3956 ματαιότης G3153 καὶ G2532 προαίρεσις πνεύματος. G4151 [15] Διεστραμμένον G1294 οὐ G3756 δυνήσεται G1410 τοῦ G3588 ἐπικοσμηθῆναι, καὶ G2532 ὑστέρημα G5303 οὐ G3756 δυνήσεται G1410 τοῦ G3588 ἀριθμηθῆναι. G705 [16] Ἐλάλησα G2980 ἐγὼ G1473 ἐν G1722 καρδίᾳ G2588 μου G3450 τῷ G3588 λέγειν G3004 Ἐγὼ G1473 ἰδοὺ G2400 ἐμεγαλύνθην G3170 καὶ G2532 προσέθηκα G4369 σοφίαν G4678 ἐπὶ G1909 πᾶσιν, G3956 οἳ G3739 ἐγένοντο G1096 ἔμπροσθέν G1715 μου G3450 ἐν G1722 Ιερουσαλημ, G2419 καὶ G2532 καρδία G2588 μου G3450 εἶδεν G1492 πολλά, G4183 σοφίαν G4678 καὶ G2532 γνῶσιν. G1108 [17] Καὶ G2532 ἔδωκα G1325 καρδίαν G2588 μου G3450 τοῦ G3588 γνῶναι G1097 σοφίαν G4678 καὶ G2532 γνῶσιν, G1108 παραβολὰς G3850 καὶ G2532 ἐπιστήμην ἔγνων, G1097 ὅτι G3754 καί G2532 γε G1065 τοῦτ’ G5124 ἔστιν G2076 προαίρεσις πνεύματος· G4151 [18] ὅτι G3754 ἐν G1722 πλήθει G4128 σοφίας G4678 πλῆθος G4128 γνώσεως, G1108 καὶ G2532 ὁ G3588 προστιθεὶς G4369 γνῶσιν G1108 προσθήσει G4369 ἄλγημα.
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament