English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
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.
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.