AFV2020 - Ecclesiastes - 1

1:1  The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

1:2  "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "vanity of vanities! All is vanity."

1:3  What profit does a man have in all his labor which he labors under the sun?

1:4  One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

1:5  The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it arose.

1:6  The wind goes toward the south, and it turns around to the north; it whirls around continually; and the wind returns on its circuits.

1:7  All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; to the place from where the rivers come, there they return again.

1:8  All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

1:9  That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.

1:10  Is there a thing of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in days of old, which were before us.

1:11  There is no memory of former things, neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come by those who shall come afterwards.

1:12  I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

1:13  And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under the heavens. It is a grievous task God has given to the sons of men to be exercised by it.

1:14  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.

1:15  What is crooked cannot be made straight; and what is lacking cannot be numbered.

1:16  I spoke within my own heart, saying, "Lo, I have become great and have gathered more wisdom than all that have been before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart has experienced great wisdom and knowledge."

1:17  And I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after wind.

1:18  For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.