2Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3What profit has a man of all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

4One generation passes away and another generation comes; but the earth abides for ever.

5The sun rises and the sun goes down and hastens to the place where it rose that from thence it may rise again.

6The wind blows toward the south, and turns about to the north; it whirls continually, and returns again according to its circuits.

7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from whence the rivers flow, thither they return to flow again.

8All things are wearisome: a man is not satisfied with utterance, his eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor his ear satisfied with hearing.

9The thing that has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.

10Whosoever speaks and says, Look, this is new, should know that it already has been in the ages which were before us.

11There is no remembrance of former generations; neither shall there be any remembrance of generations that are to come with those that will come after.

12I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I gave my heart to seek to search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; to be engaged in it is a difficult task that God has given to the sons of men. 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15The chaotic cannot be made orderly; and he who is lacking knowledge cannot be supplied with it.

16I have communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great, and have gotten more wisdom than all they who were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17And I gave my heart to know wisdom and proverbs and understanding; but I have perceived that this also is vexation of spirit 18Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.