King James Version

1 The words of Kohelet, son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. 3 What advantage does a person have in all his labor in which he toils under the sun? 4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth stands forever. 5 And the sun rose and the sun came, and to its place it looked to shine; it is there. 6 Going to the south and circling to the north, circling and going, the wind blows, and upon its circuits the wind returns. 7 All the rivers go to the sea, and the sea is not full, to the place where the rivers go; there they return to flow again. 8 All things are weary; no man can speak it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, and the ear is not filled with hearing. 9 What was will be, and what has been will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 There is a thing that will say, "Behold, this is new; it has already been for ages, which was before us." 11 There is no remembrance of the former ones, and also of the latter ones that will be; there will be no remembrance of them with those that will be after. 12 I, Ecclesiastes, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to seek and explore with wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; it is a painful task that God has given to the sons of man to be occupied with. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. 15 A twisted thing cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I spoke with my heart, saying, "I have indeed grown and added wisdom beyond all that was before me in Jerusalem, and my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge." 17 I have given my heart to know wisdom and knowledge, and I have learned that this too is a chasing after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much anger, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.