Ecc 1:2-18 | ESV | STEP | Vanity of vanities , says the Preacher , vanity of vanities ! All is vanity .

2 ^aVanity ^{▼▼The Hebrew term hebel, translated vanity or vain, refers concretely to a “mist,” “vapor,” or “mere breath,” and metaphorically to something that is fleeting or elusive (with different nuances depending on the context). It appears five times in this verse and in 29 other verses in Ecclesiastes} of vanities, says ^cthe Preacher,
^dvanity of vanities! ^eAll is vanity.
3 ^fWhat ^gdoes man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but ^hthe earth remains forever.
5 ⁱThe sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens ^{▼▼Or and returns panting} to the place where it rises.
6 ^kThe wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All ^lstreams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
^mthe eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 ⁿWhat has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been ^oalready
in the ages before us.
11 There is no ^premembrance of former things, ^{▼▼Or former people}
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things ^{▼▼Or later people} yet to be
among those who come after.

The Vanity of Wisdom

12 I ^sthe Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I ^tapplied my heart ^{▼▼The Hebrew term denotes the center of one’s inner life, including mind, will, and emotions} to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy ^vbusiness that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is ^wvanity ^{▼▼The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)} and a striving after wind. ^{▼▼Or a feeding on wind; compare Hosea 12:1 (also in Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9)}

15 ^zWhat is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great ^aawisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I ^abapplied my heart to know wisdom and to know ^acmadness and folly. I perceived that this also is but ^ada striving after wind.

18 For ^aein much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.