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Ecclesiastes 1

EcclesiastesWEB

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Ecclesiastes 1:1WEB

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

Ecclesiastes 1:2WEB

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 1:3WEB

What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 1:4WEB

One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:5WEB

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

Ecclesiastes 1:6WEB

The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

Ecclesiastes 1:7WEB

All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.

Ecclesiastes 1:8WEB

All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

Ecclesiastes 1:9WEB

That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:10WEB

Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.

Ecclesiastes 1:11WEB

There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.

Ecclesiastes 1:12WEB

I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

Ecclesiastes 1:13WEB

I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

Ecclesiastes 1:14WEB

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

Ecclesiastes 1:15WEB

That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

Ecclesiastes 1:16WEB

I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

Ecclesiastes 1:17WEB

I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:18WEB

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.