Ecclesiastes 1:1-6 in English

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.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

³ What advantage is there to a man in all his labour that he takes under the sun?

⁴ A generation goes, and a generation comes: but the earth stands for ever.

⁵ And the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws toward its place;

⁶ arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits.

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 a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

⁵ The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

⁶ 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.

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 a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

⁵ The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

⁶ 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.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

³ What advantage is there to a man in all his labor that he takes under the sun?

⁴ A generation goes, and a generation comes: but the earth stands for ever.

⁵ And the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws toward its place;

⁶ arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits.

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 labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?

⁴ One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.

⁵ The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he 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.

¹ I am Solomon, the son of King David. I rule in Jerusalem and people call me ❛The ◄Preacher/Religious Teacher►❜.

² I say that everything is mysterious; everything is hard for me to understand; it is difficult to understand why everything happens.

³ ◄What do people gain from all the work that they do here on the earth?/It seems that people gain no lasting benefit from all the work that they do here on the earth.► RHQ

⁴ Each year old people die and babies are born, but the earth never changes.

⁵ Each morning the sun rises, and each evening it sets, and then it hurries around to where it started from.

⁶ The wind blows south, and then it turns around to start blowing towards the north. It goes around and around in circles.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

³ What advantage is there to a man in all his labour that he takes under the sun?

⁴ A generation goes, and a generation comes: but the earth stands for ever.

⁵ And the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws towards its place;

⁶ arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round towards the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

² “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

³ What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

⁵ The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.

⁶ The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

² “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

³ What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

⁵ The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.

⁶ The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

² “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

³ What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun?

⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

⁵ The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.

⁶ The wind goes towards the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

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

² All is to no purpose, said the Preacher, all the ways of man are to no purpose.

³ What is a man profited by all his work which he does under the sun?

⁴ One generation goes and another comes; but the earth is for ever.

⁵ The sun comes up and the sun goes down, and goes quickly back to the place where he came up.

⁶ The wind goes to the south, turning back again to the north; circling round for ever.

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 labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun?

⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh, but the earth standeth for ever.

⁵ The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.

⁶ The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about towards the north: it turneth about continually, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

¹ The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.

³ What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun?

⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever.

⁵ The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,

⁶ Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits.

¹ Here are the words of the Teacher, the king of Jerusalem, David's son.

² “Everything passes—it's so temporary! It's all so hard to understand!” says the Teacher.

³ What benefit do you get for slaving away in this life?

⁴ People come, and people go, but the earth lasts forever!

⁵ The sun comes up, and the sun goes down, and then rushes to its place to rise again.

⁶ The wind blows south, and then turns to the north. Round and round it spins, finally coming full circle.

¹ The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.

² Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.

³ What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?

⁴ One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.

⁵ The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.

⁶ The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.

¹ THE WORDS OF the Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

³ What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?

⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.

⁵ The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.

⁶ The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its circuit, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

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 a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

⁵ The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

⁶ 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.

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

² Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth, vanity of vanities: all is vanity.

³ What profit hath a man of all his toil which he toil-eth under the sun?

⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth endureth for ever.

⁵ The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and striving to reach his place he riseth again there.

⁶ Going toward the south, and turning round toward the north, the wind moveth round about continually; and around its circles doth the wind return again.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

³ What advantage is there to a man In all his labor that he takes under the sun?

⁴ A generation goes, and a generation comes: But the earth stands forever.

⁵ And the sun arises, and the sun goes down And draws toward its place;

⁶ Arising there it proceeds southward, And goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, And the wind returns to its circuits.

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 a man by all his labor with which he wearieth himself under the sun?

⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; while the earth abideth for ever.

⁵ The sun riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteneth to the place whence it arose.

⁶ The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about to the north; round and round goeth the wind, and returneth to its circuits.

¹ These are the words of the Teacher, the descendant of David and king in Jerusalem.

² The Teacher says this. “Like a vapor of mist, like a breeze in the wind, everything vanishes, leaving many questions.

³ What profit does mankind gain from all the work that they labor at under the sun?

⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

⁵ The sun rises, and it goes down and hurries back to the place where it rises again.

⁶ The wind blows south and circles around to the north, always going around along its pathway and coming back again.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

² “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

³ What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

⁵ The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.

⁶ The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

² “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

³ What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun?

⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

⁵ The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.

⁶ The wind goes towards the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

¹ The words of the preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

³ What profit hath a man of all his labor, which he taketh under the sun?

⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

⁵ The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

⁶ The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about to the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to its circuits.

¹ The words of Kohelet, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

² “Vanity of vanities,” says Kohelet; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

³ What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

⁵ The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.

⁶ The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

¹ The words of Kohelet, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

² “Vanity of vanities,” says Kohelet; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

³ What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun?

⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

⁵ The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.

⁶ The wind goes towards the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

¹ The words of Ecclesiastes, son of David, king of Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes; vanity of vanities, and all things be vanity.

³ What hath a man moreover of all his travail, by which he travaileth under the sun?

⁴ A generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth standeth without end.

⁵ The sun riseth up, and goeth down, and turneth again to his place; and there it riseth again,

⁶ and compasseth by the south, and turneth again to the north. The spirit compassing all things goeth about, and turneth again into his circles.

¹ The words of Ecclesiastes, son of David, king of Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes; vanity of vanities, and all things be vanity. (Emptiness and futility, said Ecclesiastes; emptiness and futility, yea, everything is empty and futile.)

³ What hath a man moreover of all his travail, by which he travaileth under the sun? (What profiteth a person from all his labour, that he laboureth at under the sun?)

⁴ A generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth standeth without end. (One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth endureth forever.)

⁵ The sun riseth up, and goeth down, and turneth again to his place; and there it riseth again, (The sun riseth up, and goeth down, and returneth to its place; and there it riseth again,)

⁶ and compasseth by the south, and turneth again to the north. The spirit compassing all things goeth about, and turneth again into his circles. (and goeth around to the south, and then returneth to the north. Going around, the wind goeth about touching all things, and then returneth full circle.)

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.