^{1 Ref} Words of a preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

^{2 Ref} Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole `is' vanity.

^{3 Ref} What advantage `is' to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun?

^{4 Ref} A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing.

^{5 Ref} Also, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there.

^{6 Ref} Going unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned.

^{7 Ref} All the streams are going unto the sea, and the sea is not full; unto a place whither the streams are going, thither they are turning back to go.

^{8 Ref} All these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor filled is the ear from hearing.

^{9 Ref} What `is' that which hath been? it `is' that which is, and what `is' that which hath been done? it `is' that which is done, and there is not an entirely new thing under the sun.

^{10 Ref} There is a thing of which `one' saith: `See this, it `is' new!' already it hath been in the ages that were before us!

^{11 Ref} There is not a remembrance of former `generations'; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.

^{12 Ref} I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

^{13 Ref} And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It `is' a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.

^{14 Ref} I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole `is' vanity and vexation of spirit!

^{15 Ref} A crooked thing `one' is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.

^{16 Ref} I -- I spake with my heart, saying, `I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.

^{17 Ref} And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this `is' vexation of spirit;

^{18 Ref} for, in abundance of wisdom `is' abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.'

^{1 Ref} The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

^{2 Ref} Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

^{3 Ref} What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

^{4 Ref} One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.

^{5 Ref} The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.

^{6 Ref} The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

^{7 Ref} All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.

^{8 Ref} All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter `it': the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

^{9 Ref} That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

^{10 Ref} Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us.

^{11 Ref} There is no remembrance of the former `generations'; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter `generations' that are to come, among those that shall come after.

^{12 Ref} I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

^{13 Ref} And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

^{14 Ref} I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

^{15 Ref} That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

^{16 Ref} I communed with mine own hear, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

^{17 Ref} And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

^{18 Ref} For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.