Ecclesiastes 1 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
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
- § 1:10 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
- § 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 (QalPerf) the Preacher, H6953 vanity H1892 of vanities; H1892 all is vanity. H1892 [3] What profit H3504 hath a man H120 of all his labour H5999 which he taketh H5998 (QalImpf) under the sun? H8121 [4] One generation H1755 passeth away, H1980 (QalActPtc) and another generation H1755 cometh: H935 (QalActPtc/Ketiv) but the earth H776 abideth H5975 (QalActPtc) for ever. H5769 [5] The sun H8121 also ariseth, H2224 (QalPerf) and the sun H8121 goeth down, H935 (QalPerf) and hasteth H7602 (QalActPtc)§ to his place H4725 where he arose. H2224 (QalActPtc) [6] The wind H7307 goeth H1980 (QalActPtc) toward the south, H1864 and turneth about H5437 (QalActPtc) unto the north; H6828 it whirleth about continually, H1980 (QalActPtc) and the wind H7307 returneth again H7725 (QalPerf) according to his circuits. H5439 [7] All the rivers H5158 run H1980 (QalActPtc) into the sea; H3220 yet the sea H3220 is not full; H4392 unto the place H4725 from whence the rivers H5158 come, H1980 (QalActPtc) thither they return H7725 (QalActPtc) again. H3212 (QalInf)§ [8] All things H1697 are full of labour; H3023 man H376 cannot H3201 (QalImpf) utter H1696 (PielInf) it: the eye H5869 is not satisfied H7646 (QalImpf) with seeing, H7200 (QalInf) nor the ear H241 filled H4390 (NiphImpf) with hearing. H8085 (QalInf) [9] The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done H6213 (NiphPerf) is that which shall be done: H6213 (NiphImpf) and there is no new H2319 thing under the sun. H8121 [10] Is there H3426 any thing H1697 whereof it may be said, H559 (QalImpf) See, H7200 (QalImpv) this is new? H2319 it hath been already H3528 of old time, H5769 which 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 Israel H3478 in Jerusalem. H3389 [13] And I gave H5414 (QalPerf) my heart H3820 to seek H1875 (QalInf) and search out H8446 (QalInf) by wisdom H2451 concerning all things that are done H6213 (NiphPerf) under heaven: H8064 this sore H7451 travail H6045 hath God H430 given H5414 (QalPerf) to the sons H1121 of man H120 to be exercised H6031 (QalInf) therewith.§ [14] I have seen H7200 (QalPerf) all the works H4639 that are done H6213 (NiphPerf) under the sun; H8121 and, behold, all is vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit. H7307 [15] That which is crooked H5791 (PualPtc) cannot H3201 (QalImpf) be made straight: H8626 (QalInf) and that which is wanting H2642§ cannot H3201 (QalImpf) be numbered. H4487 (NiphInf) [16] I communed H1696 (PielPerf) with mine own heart, H3820 saying, H559 (QalInf) Lo, I am come to great estate, H1431 (HiphPerf) and have gotten H3254 (HiphPerf) more wisdom H2451 than all they that have been before H6440 me in Jerusalem: H3389 yea, my heart H3820 had great H7235 (HiphInf) experience H7200 (QalPerf)§ of wisdom H2451 and knowledge. H1847 [17] And I gave H5414 (QalImpf) my heart H3820 to know H3045 (QalInf) wisdom, H2451 and to know H3045 (QalInf) madness H1947 and folly: H5531 I perceived H3045 (QalPerf) that this H1571 also is vexation H7475 of spirit. H7307 [18] For in much H7230 wisdom H2451 is much H7230 grief: H3708 and he that increaseth H3254 (HiphImpf) knowledge H1847 increaseth H3254 (HiphImpf) sorrow. H4341Footnotes
- § 1:5 Heb. panteth
- § 1:7 Heb. return to go
- § 1:13 Or, to afflict them
- § 1:15 Heb. defect
- § 1:16 Heb. had seen much
Byzantine Greek New Testament
No content available.