Ecc 1 | ABEn | STEP | The sayings of an ecclesiastic, son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.

Ecclesiastes 1

CHAPTER 1 The Folly of Life

1 The sayings of an ecclesiastic, son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem. 2 Folly of follies, said the ecclesiastic, folly of follies; all things are folly. 3 What is abundance to man in all his trouble in which he is troubled under the sun? 4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, and the earth [²into ³the ⁴eon ¹is established]. 5 And [³rises ¹the ²sun], and [³goes down ¹the ²sun], and [²unto ³its place ¹it draws]. 6 In its rising it goes forth to the south, and it circles to the north; [³circles ⁵circling ⁴going ¹the ²wind], and at its circuits [³returns ¹the ²wind]. 7 All the rushing streams go into the sea, and the sea is not filled up. To the place where the rushing streams went, there they shall return to go again. 8 All [²words ¹wearied ⁴shall not ⁵be able ³a man] to speak; and [²shall not ³be filled up ¹the eye] to see, and [²shall not ³be filled ¹the ear] of hearing. 9 What is the thing taking place? the same thing as shall be taking place. And what is the thing being done? the same thing that shall be done; and there is not anything newly made under the sun. 10 Who shall speak and shall say? Behold this is new! Already it has happened in the eons to the ones having taken place from before us. 11 There is no remembrance to the first things; and indeed to the last things being, there will not be a remembrance of them, with the ones being born at the latter end. 12 I an ecclesiastic became king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to inquire and to survey by wisdom concerning all things happening under the heaven. For [⁴distraction ³a wicked ²gave ¹God] to the sons of men to be distracting to him. 14 I beheld all the actions, the ones being done under the sun; and behold, all was folly and a resolve of spirit. 15 The thing being perverted is not able to be embellished. And deficiency is not able to be counted. 16 I spoke in my heart to say, Behold, I was magnified, and was added wisdom over all who came before me in Jerusalem. And I give my heart to know wisdom and knowledge. 17 And my heart beheld much wisdom and knowledge, parables, and higher knowledge. [³knew ²I ¹For] even indeed this is resolve of spirit. 18 For in abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and the one adding knowledge shall add pain.