Ecclesiastes 1
1
1These are the words from the Teacher, a son of David and king of Jerusalem.
2Everything is so meaningless. The Teacher says that it is all a waste of time!#1:2 meaningless … a waste of time The Hebrew word means “vapor or breath” or “something that is useless, meaningless, empty, wrong, or a waste of time.” 3Do people really gain anything from all the hard work they do in this life#1:3 in this life Literally, “under the sun.” Also in verses 9, 13.?
Things Never Change
4People live and people die, but the earth continues forever. 5The sun rises and the sun goes down, and then it hurries to rise again in the same place.
6The wind blows to the south, and the wind blows to the north. The wind blows around and around. Then it turns and blows back to the place it began.
7All rivers flow again and again to the same place. They all flow to the sea, but the sea never becomes full.
8Words cannot fully explain things,#1:8 Words cannot fully explain things Literally, “All words are weak.” but people continue speaking.#1:8 but people continue speaking The Hebrew could also be translated, “People cannot speak.” Words come again and again to our ears, but our ears don’t become full. And our eyes don’t become full of what we see.
Nothing Is New
9All things continue the way they have been since the beginning. The same things will be done that have always been done. There is nothing new in this life.
10Someone might say, “Look, this is new,” but that thing has always been here. It was here before we were.
11People don’t remember what happened long ago. In the future, they will not remember what is happening now. And later, other people will not remember what the people before them did.
Does Wisdom Bring Happiness?
12I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13I decided to study and to use my wisdom to learn about everything that is done in this life. I learned that it is a very hard thing that God has given us to do. 14I looked at everything done on earth, and I saw that it is all a waste of time. It is like trying to catch the wind.#1:14 trying to catch the wind Or “It is very troubling to the spirit.” The word for “troubling” can also mean “craving,” and the word for “spirit” can also mean “wind.” Also in verse 17. 15If something is crooked, you cannot say it is straight. And if something is missing, you cannot say it is there.
16I said to myself, “I am very wise. I am wiser than all the kings who ruled Jerusalem before me. I know what wisdom and knowledge really are.”
17I decided to learn how wisdom and knowledge are better than thinking foolish thoughts. But I learned that trying to become wise is like trying to catch the wind. 18With much wisdom comes frustration. The one who gains more wisdom also gains more sorrow.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Ecclesiastes 1
1
1The words of the Preacher,#1.1 Heb Qoheleth the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains for ever.
5The sun rises and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
6The wind blows to the south,
and goes round 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 flow again.
8All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
and there is nothing new under the sun.
10Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already,
in the ages before us.
11There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to happen
among those who come after.
12I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I applied 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 the sons of men to be busy with. 14I have seen everything that is done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a striving 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 numbered.
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 striving after wind.
18For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America