1The words of the Preacher , the son of David , king in Jerusalem . 2Vanity of vanities , saith the Preacher ; vanity of vanities , all is vanity . 3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun ? 4One generation goeth , and another generation cometh ; but the earth abideth for ever . 5The sun also ariseth , and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth . 6The wind goeth toward the south , and turneth about unto the north ; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits . 7All the rivers run into the sea , yet the sea is not full ; unto the place whither the rivers go , thither they go again . 8All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it : the eye is not satisfied with seeing , nor the ear filled with hearing . 9That which hath been is that which shall be ; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done : and there is no new thing under the sun . 10Is there a thing whereof it may be said , See , this is new ? it hath been long ago , in the ages which were before us . 11There is no remembrance of the former generations ; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter generations that are to come , among those that shall come after .
The Cycles of Nature
12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem . 13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven : it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun ; and , behold , all is vanity and a striving after wind . 15That which is crooked cannot be made straight ; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered . 16I communed with mine own heart , saying , Lo , I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem ; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge . 17And I applied my heart to know wisdom , and to know madness and folly : I perceived that this also was a striving after wind . 18For in much wisdom is much grief ; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow .