1 The words of the Teacher, a1:1 Or Speaker, Or Philosopher, and so throughout the book the son of David, king in Jerusalem. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:1
2 “Utterly pointless,” b1:2 Or Utter vanity; and so throughout the book says the Teacher. “Absolutely pointless; everything is pointless.” ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:2
3 What does a man gain from all of the work that he undertakes on earth? c1:3 Lit. under the sun; i.e. from an earthly perspective; and so throughout the book ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:3
4 A generation goes, a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:4
5 The sun rises, the sun sets, then rushes back to where it arose. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:5
6 The wind blows southward, then northward, constantly circulating, and the wind comes back again in its courses. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:6
7 All the rivers flow toward the sea, but the sea is never full; then rivers return to the headwaters d1:7 Lit. place where they began. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:7
8 Everything is wearisome, more than man is able to express. The eye is never satisfied by seeing, nor the ear by hearing. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:8
9 Whatever has happened, will happen again; whatever has been done, will be done again. There is nothing new on earth. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:9
10 Does anything exist about which someone might say, “Look at this! Is this new?” It happened ages ago; it existed before we did. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:10
11 No one remembers those in the past, nor will they be remembered by those who come after them. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:11
12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:12
13 I dedicated myself to using wisdom for study and discovery of everything that is done under heaven. e1:13 i.e. from a heavenly perspective God uses terrible things so human beings will struggle with life. f1:13 The Heb. lacks with life ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:13
14 I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless—like chasing after the wind. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:14
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight; what is not there cannot be counted. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:15
16 I told myself, “I have become greater and wiser than anyone who ruled before me in Jerusalem—yes, I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge.” ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:16
17 So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and knowledge, and about insanity and foolishness. And I discovered that this is also like chasing after the wind. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:17
18 For with much wisdom there is much sorrow; the more someone adds to knowledge, the more someone adds to grief. ISV — Ecclesiastes 1:18