| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. | 1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. |
| 2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” | 2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. |
| 3What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? | 3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? |
| 4One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. | 4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. |
| 5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. | 5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. |
| 6The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit. | 6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. |
| 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 rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return 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 full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor 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. | 9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing 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. | 10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was 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 former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. |
| 12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. | 12I the Preacher was 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. | 13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. |
| 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 works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. |
| 15What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered. | 15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. |
| 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 communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of 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. | 17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. |
| 18For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. | 18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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