1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity. 3What profit does a man have of all his labour which he takes under the sun? 4[One] generation passes away, and [another] generation comes, but the earth abides for ever. 5The sun arises, and the sun goes down, and with desire returns to his place from which he arises again. 6The wind goes toward the south and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to its circuits. 7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, there they return again. 8All things [are] full of labour; more [than] man can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing. 9The thing that has 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 of which it may be said, See, this [is] new? it has been already of old time which was before us. 11[There is] no remembrance of former [things]; neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [those] 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 sore travail God has given to the sons of man that they be occupied in it). 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit. 15[That which is] crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is lacking cannot be numbered. 16I communed with my own heart, saying, Behold, I am come to great estate and have gotten more wisdom than all [those] that have been before me in Jerusalem; and my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17And I gave my heart to know wisdom and knowledge and to know folly and [those who are] mad; I learned [in the end] that this also is vexation of spirit. 18For in much wisdom [is] much grief, and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.: