Ecclesiastes 1

The Preacher declares that all is vanity and that there is nothing new under the sun. He introduces himself as king over Israel in Jerusalem and recounts how he set his heart to search out all things by wisdom, finding that even wisdom itself brings grief and sorrow.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.	The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2	Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.	"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "vanity of vanities; all is vanity."
3	What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?	What does a man gain from all his labor at which he works under the sun?
4	One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.	One generation passes away, and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
5	The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.	The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries back to the place where it rose.
6	The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.	The wind goes toward the south and turns about to the north. It whirls about continually, and the wind returns again on its circuits.
7	All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.	All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place from which the rivers come, there they return again.
8	All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.	All things are full of labor; a man cannot put it into words. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9	The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.	That which has been is what shall be, and that which is done is what shall be done. There is no new thing under the sun.
10	Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.	Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times, which were before us.
11	There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.	There is no memory of former things, nor will there be any memory of things to come among those who come after.
12	I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.	I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13	And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.	I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom all things that are done under heaven. This heavy task God has given to the sons of man, to be busy with.
14	I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.	I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15	That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.	What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16	I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.	I spoke with my own heart, saying, "I have come to greatness and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
17	And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.	I set my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I saw that this also is vexation of spirit.
18	For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.	For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.