Ecclesiastes 1
1
Reflections of a Royal Philosopher
1The words of the Teacher,#1.1 Heb Qoheleth, traditionally rendered Preacher the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,#1.2 Heb Qoheleth, traditionally rendered Preacher
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3What do people gain from all the toil
at which they toil under the sun?
4A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
5The sun rises and the sun goes down,
and hurries to the place where it rises.
6The wind blows to the south,
and goes around to the north;
round and round goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they continue to flow.
8All things#1.8 Or words are wearisome;
more than one can express;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
or the ear filled with hearing.
9What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
10Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has already been,
in the ages before us.
11The people of long ago are not remembered,
nor will there be any remembrance
of people yet to come
by those who come after them.
The Futility of Seeking Wisdom
12I, the Teacher,#1.12 Heb Qoheleth, traditionally rendered Preacher when king over Israel in Jerusalem, 13applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. 14I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.#1.14 Or a feeding on wind. See Hos 12.1
15What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16I said to myself, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.#1.17 Or a feeding on wind. See Hos 12.1
18For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow.
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Ecclesiastes 1
1
Everything is Futile
1The words of the Teacher, # Or of Qoheleth, or of the Leader of the Assembly # Ec 1:12; 7:27; 12:8-10 son of David, king in Jerusalem. # 1Kg 2:12; Pr 1:1
2“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.
“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” # Ps 39:5-6; 62:9; 144:4; Ec 12:8; Rm 8:20
3What does a man gain for all his efforts
that he labors at under the sun? # Ec 2:11,22; 3:9; 5:16
4A generation goes and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever. # Ps 104:5; 119:90; 1Jn 2:17
5The sun rises and the sun sets;
panting, it returns to its place # Ps 19:6
where it rises.
6Gusting to the south,
turning to the north,
turning, turning, goes the wind, # Ec 11:5; Jn 3:8
and the wind returns in its cycles.
7All the streams flow to the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
The streams are flowing to the place,
and they flow there again.
8All things # Or words are wearisome;
man is unable to speak.
The eye is not satisfied by seeing # Pr 27:20; Ec 4:8
or the ear filled with hearing.
9What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
10Can one say about anything,
“Look, this is new”?
It has already existed in the ages before us.
11There is no remembrance of those who # Or of the things that came before; # Dt 9:14; Ec 2:16; 9:5
and of those who # Or of the things that will come after
there will also be no remembrance
by those who follow them.
The Limitations of Wisdom
12I, the Teacher, # Ec 1:1; 7:27; 12:8-10 have been # Or Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13I applied my mind to seek # Ec 1:17 and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. # 1Kg 4:29-34; Ec 3:10-11; 7:25; 8:17 God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. # Gn 3:19; Ec 2:23,26; 3:10; 4:8 14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. # Or a feeding on wind, or an affliction of spirit # Pr 27:16; Ec 2:11,17; 4:4; 6:9
15What is crooked cannot be straightened; # Ec 7:13
what is lacking cannot be counted.
16I said to myself, # Lit said with my heart “Look, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, # 1Kg 3:12; 4:30; 10:23; Ec 2:9 and my mind has thoroughly grasped # Or discerned wisdom and knowledge.” 17I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, # Ec 1:13 madness and folly; # Ec 2:12; 7:25 I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind. # Or a feeding on wind, or an affliction of spirit # Ec 2:11,17; 4:4,6,16; 6:9
18For with much wisdom is much sorrow; # Ec 2:23; 12:12
as knowledge increases, grief increases.
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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.