1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem. 2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity. 3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 4[One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. 5The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth. 6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about to the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to its circuits. 7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again. 8All things are full of labour: man cannot vtter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the eare filled with hearing. 9The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun. 10Is there any thing, whereof one may say, Beholde this, it is newe? It hath bene already in the olde time that was before vs. 11There is no memorie of the former, neither shall there be a remembrance of the latter that shalbe, with them that shall come after. 12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this grievous labour hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised with it. 14I haue considered all the workes that are done vnder the sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit. 15[That which is] crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is lacking cannot be numbered. 16I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold, I am become great, and excell in wisdome all them that haue bene before me in Ierusalem: and mine heart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge. 17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.