Ecclesiastes 1

All 18 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1These are the words of King David's son, the Teacher who was king in Jerusalem.
2. 2Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3. 3What profit does a man have from all his labor which he takes under the sun?
4. 4One generation passes away and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
5. 5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it arose.
6. 6The wind goes toward the south and turns around to the north; it whirls around continually, and the wind returns again on its circuits.
7. 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.
8. 8All things are full of labor; a person cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9. 9What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
10. 10Is there anything of which it may be said, "Look, this is new"? It has been already of old time, which was before us.
11. 11There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come among those who come after.
12. 12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13. 13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven. This sore travail has God given to the sons of man to be exercised with it.
14. 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and look, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15. 15What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16. 16I spoke with my own heart, saying, "Look, I have come to great estate and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem; yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
17. 17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18. 18For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.