1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. [4] 2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. [8] 3 What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun? [7] 4 One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever. [7] 5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth. [4] 6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits. [4] 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again. [4] 8 All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. [5] 9 That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. [5] 10 Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us. [4] 11 There is no remembrance of the former generations; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter generations that are to come, among those that shall come after. [4] 12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. [3] 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. [3] 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. [4] 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. [4] 16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. [3] 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind. [4] 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

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