English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
9
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.
10
Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.
11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.
11
No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
12
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
13
I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!
14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
14
I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
15
What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said in my heart, "I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
16
I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”
17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
17
Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
18
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.