1 Words of a preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

2 Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole `is' vanity.

3 What advantage `is' to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun?

4 A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing.

5 Also, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there.

6 Going unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned.

7 All the streams are going unto the sea, and the sea is not full; unto a place whither the streams are going, thither they are turning back to go.

8 All these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor filled is the ear from hearing.

9 What `is' that which hath been? it `is' that which is, and what `is' that which hath been done? it `is' that which is done, and there is not an entirely new thing under the sun.

10 There is a thing of which `one' saith: `See this, it `is' new!' already it hath been in the ages that were before us!

11 There is not a remembrance of former `generations'; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.

12 I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It `is' a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.

14 I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole `is' vanity and vexation of spirit!

15 A crooked thing `one' is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.

16 I -- I spake with my heart, saying, `I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.

17 And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this `is' vexation of spirit;

18 for, in abundance of wisdom `is' abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.'