1 The words of the preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; vanity of vanities, all vanity.
3 What the profit to a man in all the labor he will labor under the sun?
4 A generation went away, and a generation came: and the earth stood forever.
5 The sun arose and the sun went down, and panted after its place which it arose there.
6 Going to the south and turning round about to the north, it turned round about; the wind turned round about, going, and the wind turned back upon its circuits.
7 All the torrents going into the sea, and the sea not full: to the place the torrents going, there they turn back to go.
8 All words becoming weary; man shall not be able to speak: the eye shall not be satisfied to see, and the ear shall not be filled from hearing.
9 What was, that shall be; and what was done, that shall be done: and not anything new under the sun.
10 Is there a word will be said, See, this is new? This was already to a long time which was before us.
11 No remembrance to former things; and also to the latter things that shall be; to them shall be no remembrance with them which shall be for the latter state.
12 I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I gave my heart to seek and to search out in wisdom concerning all which was done under the heavens: this evil business God gave to the sons of man to be occupied in it
14 I saw all the works they did under the sun; and behold, all vanity and striving of the spirit
15 The crooked thing shall not be able to be made straight: and the deficiency shall not be able to be numberd
16 It spake with my heart, saying, Behold, I was magnified, and added wisdom over all that were before me at Jerusalem: and my heart saw much of wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I will give my heart to know wisdom, and the knowledge of praise and understanding: I knew this also it is the striving of the spirit