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 a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun ? 4One generation passeth away , and another generation cometh : but the earth abideth for ever . 5The sun also ariseth , and the sun goeth down , and hasteth to his place where he arose . 6The wind goeth toward the south , and turneth about unto the north ; it whirleth about continually , and the wind returneth again according to his circuits . 7All the rivers run into the sea ; yet the sea is not full ; unto the place from whence the rivers come , thither they return again . 8All things are full of labour ; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing , nor the ear filled with hearing . 9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done : and there is no new thing under the sun . 10Is there any thing whereof it may be said , See , this is new ? it hath been already of old time , which was before us. 11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after .
The Cycles of Nature
12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem . 13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven : this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun ; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit . 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 am come to great estate , and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem : yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge . 17And I gave my heart to know wisdom , and to know madness and folly : I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit . 18For in much wisdom is much grief : and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow .