[[Proverbs 31|<< Proverbs 31]] | [[Ecclesiastes|Ecclesiastes]] | [[Ecclesiastes 2|Ecclesiastes 2 >>]] ### Ecclesiastes 1 1 THE words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. ^1 2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all _is_ vanity. ^2 3 What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes under the sun? ^3 4 _One_ generation passes away, and _another_ generation comes: but the earth abides for ever. ^4 5 The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to his place where he arose. ^5 6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits. ^6 7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea _is_ not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. ^7 8 All things _are_ full of labor; man cannot utter _it:_ the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. ^8 9 The thing that has been, it _is_ _that_ which shall be; and that which is done _is_ that which shall be done: and _there_ _is_ no new _thing_ under the sun. ^9 10 Is there _any_ thing whereof it may be said, See, this _is_ new? it has been already of old time, which was before us. ^10 11 _There_ _is_ no remembrance of former _things;_ neither shall there be _any_ remembrance of _things_ that are to come with _those_ that shall come after. ^11 12 ¶ I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ^12 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all _things_ that are done under heaven: this sore travail has God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. ^13 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all _is_ vanity and vexation of spirit. ^14 15 _That_ _which_ _is_ crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. ^15 16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all _they_ that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. ^16 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. ^17 18 For in much wisdom _is_ much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow. ^18