Ecclesiastes 1

Introducing the Spokesman

1 The words of the spokesman, the son of David and the king in Jerusalem.

The Theme

2 “Absolutely pointless!” says the spokesman. “Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless.”

Life Is an Endless Circle

3 What do people gain from all their hard work under the sun?4 Generations come, and generations go,but the earth lasts forever.5 The sun rises, and the sun sets,and then it rushes back to the place where it will rise again.6 The wind blows toward the south and shifts toward the north.Round and round it blows. It blows in a full circle.7 All streams flow into the sea, but the sea is never full.The water goes back to the place where the streams beganin order to start flowing again.8 All of these sayings are worn-out phrases. They are more than anyone can express, comprehend, or understand.9 Whatever has happened before will happen again. Whatever has been done before will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun.10 Can you say that anything is new? It has already been here long before us.

11 Nothing from the past is remembered. Even in the future, nothing will be remembered by those who come after us.

The Spokesman Begins to Study Everything Under Heaven

12 I, the spokesman, have been king of Israel in Jerusalem.

13 With all my heart I used wisdom to study and explore everything done under heaven.
Mortals are weighed down with a terrible burden that God has placed on them.

The Spokesman’s General Conclusion

14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun. Look at it! It’s all pointless. It’s like trying to catch the wind.
15 No one can straighten what is bent.No one can count what is not there.

The Spokesman Begins to Study Life

16 I thought to myself, “I have grown wiser than anyone who has ruled Jerusalem before me. I’ve had a lot of experience with wisdom and knowledge.”

17 I’ve used my mind to understand wisdom and knowledge as well as madness and stupidity. Now I know that this is like trying to catch the wind.
18 With a lot of wisdom comes a lot of heartache.The greater your knowledge, the greater your pain.

Ecclesiastes 1

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.3 What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?4 One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.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.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.8 All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.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.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.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.12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.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.14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.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.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.18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.