Ecclesiastes 1:1-10 ▼

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

2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

3 What advantage does man have in all his labor In which he labors under the sun?

4 A generation goes and a generation comes, But the earth stands forever.

5 Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And hastening to its place it rises there again.

6 Going toward the south, Then circling toward the north, The wind goes circling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns.

7 All the rivers go into the sea, Yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers go, There they continually go.

8 All things are wearisome; Man is not able to speak of it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing.

9 That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has been for ages Which were before us.