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 Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
2Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.
3What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun?
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever.
5The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,
6Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits.
7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again.
8All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.
9What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done.
10Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us.
11There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.
12I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,
13And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.
14I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
15The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.
16I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
17And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,
18Because In much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.