Ecclesiastes 1

NSB^{(i) 1} The words of the Preacher (assembler) (lecturer), the son of David, king in Jerusalem. ² »Vanity of vanities,« said the Preacher, »vanity of vanities; all is vanity.« ³ What profit does a man have of all his labor that he works under the sun? ⁴ One generation goes and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever (without end). ⁵ The sun rises and the sun goes down, and it quickly goes back to the place where it began. ⁶ The wind blows toward the south, and it turns around to the north. It whirls around continually and the wind returns on its circuits. ⁷ All the rivers run into the sea yet the sea is not full. The rivers return to the place where they began. ⁸ All things are wearisome; man is not able to tell. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. ⁹ That which has been is that which will be. That which has been done is that which will be done. There is nothing new under the sun! ¹⁰ Is there anything of which it may be said: »See, this is new?« It has already existed in days of old, which were before us. ¹¹ There is no memory of former things. Those who follow will not remember those who are yet to come. ¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ I devoted myself to study and explored wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens. It is a grievous task God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. Behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. ¹⁵ What is crooked cannot be made straight. What is lacking cannot be numbered. ¹⁶ I said to my heart, »I have become great and have acquired more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has seen an abundance of wisdom and knowledge.« ¹⁷ I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I know that this also is a striving after wind. ¹⁸ In much wisdom there is much grief for he who increases knowledge increases pain.