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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Ecclesiastes 1: HCSB
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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Ecclesiastes 1
1
The Vanity of Life
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, #Prov. 1:1king in Jerusalem.
2“Vanity#Ps. 39:5, 6; 62:9; 144:4; Eccl. 12:8 of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, #(Rom. 8:20, 21)all is vanity.”
3#Eccl. 2:22; 3:9What profit has a man from all his labor
In which he toils under the sun?
4One generation passes away, and another generation comes;
#Ps. 104:5; 119:90But the earth abides forever.
5#Ps. 19:4–6The sun also rises, and the sun goes down,
And hastens to the place where it arose.
6#Eccl. 11:5; John 3:8The wind goes toward the south,
And turns around to the north;
The wind whirls about continually,
And comes again on its circuit.
7#(Ps. 104:8, 9; Jer. 5:22)All the rivers run into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full;
To the place from which the rivers come,
There they return again.
8All things are full of labor;
Man cannot express it.
#Prov. 27:20; Eccl. 4:8The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor the ear filled with hearing.
9#Eccl. 3:15That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
10Is there anything of which it may be said,
“See, this is new”?
It has already been in ancient times before us.
11There is #Eccl. 2:16no remembrance of former things,
Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come
By those who will come after.
The Grief of Wisdom
12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I set my heart to seek and #(Eccl. 7:25; 8:16, 17)search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; #Gen. 3:19; Eccl. 3:10this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
15#Eccl. 7:13What is crooked cannot be made straight,
And what is lacking cannot be numbered.
16I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained #1 Kin. 3:12, 13; Eccl. 2:9more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” 17#Eccl. 2:3, 12; 7:23, 25; (1 Thess. 5:21)And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.
18For #Eccl. 12:12in much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.