Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 1

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