Ecclesiastes 1
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1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.1The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem."
2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”2Absolute futility," says the Teacher." Absolute futility. Everything is futile."
3What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?3What does a man gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun?
4One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.4A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose.5The sun rises and the sun sets; panting, it returns to its place where it rises.
6The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit.6Gusting to the south, turning to the north, turning, turning, goes the wind, and the wind returns in its cycles.
7All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again.7All the streams flow to the sea, yet the sea is never full. The streams are flowing to the place, and they flow there again.
8All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.8All things are wearisome; man is unable to speak. The eye is not satisfied by seeing or the ear filled with hearing.
9That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.9What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.
10Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.10Can one say about anything," Look, this is new"? It has already existed in the ages before us.
11There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.11There is no remembrance of those who came before; and of those who will come after there will also be no remembrance by those who follow them.
12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.12I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.13I applied my mind to seek and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied.
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.
15What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.15What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.
16I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.”16I said to myself, "Look, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge."
17And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.17I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.
18For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.18For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Proverbs 31
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