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Chapter 1
1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.
3 What has a man more of all his labour, that he takes under the sun?
4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth stands for ever.
5 The sun rises, and goes down, and returns to his place: and there rising again,
6 makes his round by the south, and turns again to the north: the spirit goes forward surveying all places round about, and returns to his circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea does not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again.
8 All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.
9 What is it that has been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that has been done? the same that shall be done.
10 Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it has already gone before in the ages that were before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.
12 I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,
13 And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation has God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.
14 I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
15 The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.
16 I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind has contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
17 And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,
18 Because In much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that adds knowledge, adds also labour.