Parallel Bible results for "Ecclesiastes 1"

Ecclesiastes 1

Common English Bible CEB

1 The words of the Teacher of the Assembly, David's son, king in Jerusalem:

2 Perfectly pointless, says the Teacher, perfectly pointless. Everything is pointless.

3 What do people gain from all the hard work that they work so hard at under the sun?

4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains as it always has.

5 The sun rises, the sun sets; it returns panting to the place where it dawns.

6 The wind blows to the south, goes around to the north; around and around blows the wind; the wind returns to its rounds again.

7 All streams flow to the sea, but the sea is never full; to the place where the rivers flow, there they continue to flow.

8 All words are tiring; no one is able to speak. The eye isn't satisfied with seeing, neither is the ear filled up by hearing.

9 Whatever has happened—that's what will happen again; whatever has occurred—that's what will occur again. There's nothing new under the sun.

10 People may say about something: "Look at this! It's new!" But it was already around for ages before us.

11 There's no remembrance of things in the past, nor of things to come in the future. Neither will there be any remembrance among those who come along in the future.

12 I am the Teacher. I was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 I applied my mind to investigate and to explore by wisdom all that happens under heaven. It's an unhappy obsession that God has given to human beings.

14 When I observed all that happens under the sun, I realized that everything is pointless, a chasing after wind.

15 What's crooked can't be straightened; what isn't there can't be counted.

16 I said to myself, Look here, I have grown much wiser than any who ruled over Jerusalem before me. My mind has absorbed great wisdom and knowledge.

17 But when I set my mind to understand wisdom, and also to understand madness and folly, I realized that this too was just wind chasing.

18 Remember: In much wisdom is much aggravation; the more knowledge, the more pain.

New Revised Standard NRS

1 The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

3 What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun?

4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

5 The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises.

6 The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.

7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow.

8 All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing.

9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has already been, in the ages before us.

11 The people of long ago are not remembered, nor will there be any remembrance of people yet to come by those who come after them.

12 I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem,

13 applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with.

14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

16 I said to myself, "I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."

17 And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.

18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow.