Ecclesiastes 1:4-18 ▼

4 A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains the same through the ages.

5 The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries away to a place from which it rises again.

6 The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round the wind goes and on its rounds it returns.

7 All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.

8 All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing.

9 What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.

10 Is there anything about which someone can say, |Look at this! It is new!|? It was already done long ago, before our time.

11 No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations.

12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile--like chasing the wind!

15 What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.

16 I thought to myself, |I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.|

17 So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

18 For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.