Ecclesiastes 1 · קהלת

The words of Qohelet, the son of David, king in Yerushalayim.

Vanity of vanities, says Qohelet, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

What profit has a man of all his labour wherein he labours under the sun?

One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides for ever.

The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to its place where it rises again.

The wind goes towards the south, and veers to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; to the place where the rivers flow, thither they return.

All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

That which has been, it is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new; but it has already been in the ages before us.

There is no remembrance of former things; nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come among those who shall come after.

I Qohelet was king over Yisra᾽el in Yerushalayim.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under the heaven: it is a sore task that God has given to the sons of man to be exercised with.

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

I spoke to my own heart, saying, See, I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all those who were before me in Yerushalayim: for my heart has seen much of wisdom and knowledge.

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.