11The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:+2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”+3What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?+4One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.+5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.+6The 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.+7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.+8All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.+9That 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.+10Is 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.+11There 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.+
With Wisdom Comes Sorrow
12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.+13I 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.+14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.+15That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.+16I 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.”+17I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.+18For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.+Footnotes (2)
a1:10 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
b1:13 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
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