New King James Version NKJV
New International Version NIV
9 That which has been is what will be, That which is 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 anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times 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 things that are to come By those who will 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, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
12
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.
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 all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the 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 numbered.
15
What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great 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 set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the 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 grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
18
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.