Ecclesiastes 1

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

2Futility of futilities, says the Preacher; futility of futilities, all is futility.

3What profit is there for man in all his labor under the sun in which he labors?

4One generation departs and another arrives, but the earth endures forever.

5The sun rises, the sun sets, and it hurries to its place where it rises.

6The wind goes to the south and turns to the north, turning and turning as it goes, and the wind returns to its circuits.

7All the rivers flow to the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they return to flow.

8All things are wearying—no man can speak them; seeing does not satisfy the eye, nor hearing fill the ear.

9What has been is what will be, what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new whatsoever under the sun.

10Is there a thing of which someone says, "See, this is new"? It has already been for ages which were before us.

11There is no memory of the former, nor will there be memory of the latter that arise among those who arise later.

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

13I directed my heart to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. This is a grievous burden God has given the sons of men to be humbled by it.

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

15What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be numbered.

16I said in my heart, "See, I have excelled and gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem; my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge."

17I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I knew that this also is a striving after wind.

18For much wisdom brings much grief, and whoever increases knowledge increases pain.