Nothing new under the sun
The words of the Preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. Nothing but emptiness, says the Preacher. Nothing but emptiness. The whole lot is empty. What does a man get out of all the work he does under the sun? One generation goes and another comes, but the earth carries on forever. The sun comes up and the sun goes down, and hurries back to where it rose. The wind blows south and turns north. Round and round it goes, and back again to where it started. All the rivers run into the sea, and the sea is never full. To the place the rivers came from, back they go again. Everything wears a man out — more than he can say. The eye never has enough of looking, and the ear never gets its fill of hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done. There is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything anyone can point to and say, Look, this is new? It was here already, long ago, before our time. Nobody remembers what went before, and nobody who comes after will remember what happens now.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Emptiness of emptiness, says the Preacher. Emptiness of emptiness — it's all empty. What does a man get out of all his work that he works at under the sun? One generation goes and another comes, but the earth stays forever. The sun comes up too and the sun goes down, and hurries back to the place where it came up. The wind goes towards the south and turns about to the north. It turns about and about, and the wind comes back on its circuits. All the rivers run into the sea, and the sea isn't full. The rivers go back to the place they came from, and go again. Everything is full of weariness — more than a man can say. The eye isn't satisfied with seeing, and the ear isn't filled with hearing. What's been is what'll be, and what's done is what'll be done. And there's nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing you could say: Look, this is new? It's been already, in the ages before us. There's no remembering of the ones who went before. And there won't be any remembering of the ones who come after, by the ones who come after them.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. The 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. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
The words of the Preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Nothing but emptiness, says the Preacher. Nothing but emptiness. The whole lot is empty.
Emptiness of emptiness, says the Preacher. Emptiness of emptiness — it's all empty.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
What does a man get out of all the work he does under the sun?
What does a man get out of all his work that he works at under the sun?
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
One generation goes and another comes, but the earth carries on forever.
One generation goes and another comes, but the earth stays forever.
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
The sun comes up and the sun goes down, and hurries back to where it rose.
The sun comes up too and the sun goes down, and hurries back to the place where it came up.
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
The wind blows south and turns north. Round and round it goes, and back again to where it started.
The wind goes towards the south and turns about to the north. It turns about and about, and the wind comes back on its circuits.
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
All the rivers run into the sea, and the sea is never full. To the place the rivers came from, back they go again.
All the rivers run into the sea, and the sea isn't full. The rivers go back to the place they came from, and go again.
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
Everything wears a man out — more than he can say. The eye never has enough of looking, and the ear never gets its fill of hearing.
Everything is full of weariness — more than a man can say. The eye isn't satisfied with seeing, and the ear isn't filled with hearing.
All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done. There is nothing new under the sun.
What's been is what'll be, and what's done is what'll be done. And there's nothing new under the sun.
The 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.
Is there anything anyone can point to and say, Look, this is new? It was here already, long ago, before our time.
Is there a thing you could say: Look, this is new? It's been already, in the ages before us.
Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Nobody remembers what went before, and nobody who comes after will remember what happens now.
There's no remembering of the ones who went before. And there won't be any remembering of the ones who come after, by the ones who come after them.
There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
The Preacher's searching
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my mind to search out by wisdom everything that is done under heaven. This is the hard business God has given the people to be occupied with. I have seen everything done under the sun, and look — it is all empty and chasing the wind. What is crooked can't be straightened, and what isn't there can't be counted. I said to myself, Look, I have grown great and got more wisdom than anyone before me in Jerusalem. My mind has taken in a great deal of wisdom and knowledge. And I set my mind to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly as well. I found that this too is chasing the wind. Because with much wisdom comes much grief, and the more knowledge a man gains, the more sorrow he gains.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to search out by wisdom everything done under the sky. God has given this hard business to the sons of men to be worn out with. I've seen all the works done under the sun. And look — it's all empty and chasing the wind. What's twisted can't be made straight, and what's missing can't be counted. I said in my heart: Look — I've come to great things and got more wisdom than everyone before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to knowing wisdom, and to knowing madness and folly. I saw this was chasing the wind too. Because in plenty of wisdom is plenty of grief. And the one who grows knowledge grows sorrow.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And 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. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. I 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. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
And I set my mind to search out by wisdom everything that is done under heaven. This is the hard business God has given the people to be occupied with.
And I gave my heart to search out by wisdom everything done under the sky. God has given this hard business to the sons of men to be worn out with.
And 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.
I have seen everything done under the sun, and look — it is all empty and chasing the wind.
I've seen all the works done under the sun. And look — it's all empty and chasing the wind.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
What is crooked can't be straightened, and what isn't there can't be counted.
What's twisted can't be made straight, and what's missing can't be counted.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
I said to myself, Look, I have grown great and got more wisdom than anyone before me in Jerusalem. My mind has taken in a great deal of wisdom and knowledge.
I said in my heart: Look — I've come to great things and got more wisdom than everyone before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
I 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.
And I set my mind to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly as well. I found that this too is chasing the wind.
And I gave my heart to knowing wisdom, and to knowing madness and folly. I saw this was chasing the wind too.
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
Because with much wisdom comes much grief, and the more knowledge a man gains, the more sorrow he gains.
Because in plenty of wisdom is plenty of grief. And the one who grows knowledge grows sorrow.
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.