1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, and all things are vanity.
2 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.
3 What hath a man more of all his labour, whereby he laboureth under the sun?
3 What hath a man more of all his labor, that he taketh under the sun?
4 Generation passeth, and generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever.
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth forever.
5 The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,
5 The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,
6 compasseth by the South, and bendeth to the North: compassing all things, goeth forward in circuit, & returneth unto his circles.
6 Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits.
7 All rivers enter into the sea, and the sea overfloweth not: to the place, whence the rivers issue forth, they do return, that they may flow again.
7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again.
8 All things are hard: man cannot explicate them in word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.
8 All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.
9 What is that hath been? The same thing that shall be. What is that hath been done? The same that is to be done.
9 What is it that hath been? The same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? The same that shall be done.
10 Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us.
10 Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us.
11 There is no memory of former things: but neither of those things verily, which hereafter are to come, shall there be remembrance with them, that shall be in the later end.
11 There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.
12 I Ecclesiastes have been king of Israel in Jerusalem,
12 I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,
13 and have proposed in my mind to seek and search wisely of all things, that are done under the sun. This very evil occupation hath God given to the children of men, that they might be occupied in it.
13 And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.
14 I have seen all things, that are done under the sun, and behold all are vanity, & affliction of spirit.
14 I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
15 The perverse are hardly corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.
15 The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.
16 I have spoken in my heart, saying: Lo I have been made great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
16 I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
17 And I have given my heart to know prudence, and doctrine, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and affliction of spirit,
17 And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labor, and vexation of spirit,
18 for that in much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.
18 Because in much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labor.