1Ecclesiastes 1

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

2Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.Select Ecclesiastes 1:2

3What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes under the sun?Select Ecclesiastes 1:3

4One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth stays for ever.Select Ecclesiastes 1:4

5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to his place where he arose.Select Ecclesiastes 1:5

6The wind goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits.Select Ecclesiastes 1:6

7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; to the place from where the rivers come, thither they return again.Select Ecclesiastes 1:7

8All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.Select Ecclesiastes 1:8

9The thing that has 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.Select Ecclesiastes 1:9

10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it has been already of old time, which was before us.Select Ecclesiastes 1:10

11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. ¶Select Ecclesiastes 1:11

12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.Select Ecclesiastes 1:12

13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail has God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.Select Ecclesiastes 1:13

14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.Select Ecclesiastes 1:14

15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.Select Ecclesiastes 1:15

16I communed with my own heart, saying, See, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.Select Ecclesiastes 1:16

17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.Select Ecclesiastes 1:17

18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.Select Ecclesiastes 1:18