Ecclesiastes 1:1-6

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains for ever.
5 The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south, and goes round to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.