1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity.
1:2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
1:3 What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?

1:4 [One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
1:4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.

1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
1:5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose.

1:6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
1:6 The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit.

1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
1:7 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.

1:8 All things [are] full of labour; man cannot utter [it]: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
1:8 All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.

1:9 The 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.
1:9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

1:10 Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said, See, this [is] new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
1:10 Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us.

1:11 [There is] no remembrance of former [things]; neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [those] that shall come after.
1:11 There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.

1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
1:12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

1:13 And 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.
1:13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

1:15 [That which is] crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

1:16 I 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.
1:16 I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge."

1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
1:17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

1:18 For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.