Everything is Futile
2
3
4
5
6
Gusting to the south,
turning to the north,
turning, turning, goes the wind,(G)
and the wind returns in its cycles.
7 turning to the north,
turning, turning, goes the wind,(G)
and the wind returns in its cycles.
All the streams flow to the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
The streams are flowing to the place,
and they flow there again.
8
9 yet the sea is never full.
The streams are flowing to the place,
and they flow there again.
What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
10 and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Can one say about anything,
“Look, this is new”?
It has already existed in the ages before us.
11
“Look, this is new”?
It has already existed in the ages before us.
The Limitations of Wisdom
12 I, the Teacher,(J) have been(e) king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 I applied my mind to seek(K) and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven.(L) God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied.(M)
14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.(f)(N)
16 I said to myself,(g) “Look, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me,(P) and my mind has thoroughly grasped(h) wisdom and knowledge.”
17 I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge,(Q) madness and folly;(R) I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.(i)(S)
Footnotes:
a.
Ecclesiastes 1:1: Or of Qoheleth, or of the Leader of the Assembly
b.
Ecclesiastes 1:8: Or words
c.
Ecclesiastes 1:11: Or of the things that
d.
Ecclesiastes 1:11: Or of the things that
e.
Ecclesiastes 1:12: Or Teacher, was
f.
Ecclesiastes 1:14: Or a feeding on wind, or an affliction of spirit
g.
Ecclesiastes 1:16: Lit said with my heart
h.
Ecclesiastes 1:16: Or discerned
i.
Ecclesiastes 1:17: Or a feeding on wind, or an affliction of spirit
Cross references:
M.
Ecclesiastes 1:13:
Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 2:23; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes 3:10; Ecclesiastes 4:8
N.
Ecclesiastes 1:14:
Proverbs 27:16; Ecclesiastes 2:11; Ecclesiastes 2:17; Ecclesiastes 4:4; Ecclesiastes 6:9