1
The words of the Preacher, the son of David,king in Jerusalem.2Vanity of vanities,saith the Preacher,vanity of vanities; all is vanity.3
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?4
One generation passeth away , and another generationcometh : but the earthabideth for ever.5
The sun also ariseth , and the sun goeth down , and hastetha to his place where he arose .
6
The windgoeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually , and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.7
All the riversrun into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the riverscome , thither they returnbagain .
8
All things are full of labour;mancannotutter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing , nor the earfilled with hearing .
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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.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.
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.12
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 soretravail hath Godgiven to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.15
That which is crookedcannot be made straight : and that which is wantingccannot be numbered .
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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 greatexperience of wisdom and knowledge.17
And I gave my heart to knowwisdom, and to knowmadness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.18
For in muchwisdom is muchgrief: and he that increasethknowledgeincreasethsorrow.