Ecclesiastes 1:12-17 in English

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.

¹² I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled therewith.

¹⁴ I beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, behold, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.

¹⁵ That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and deficiency cannot be numbered.

¹⁶ I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷ And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.

¹² I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ 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.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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 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.

¹⁷ And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

¹² I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ 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.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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 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.

¹⁷ And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

¹² I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled therewith.

¹⁴ I *saw all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, *saw, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight: and deficiency can’t be numbered.

¹⁶ I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷ And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.

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.

¹² I, the Religious Teacher, have been the king of Israel for many years, ruling in Jerusalem.

¹³ By being wise, I concentrated on understanding everything that was being done on the earth MTY. But I found out that God causes all of us to experience things that cause us to be unhappy/miserable.

¹⁴ It seems that nothing that happens on the earth really enables us to do anything useful. It is like MET chasing the wind.

¹⁵ Many things that are crooked cannot be caused to become straight; we cannot count things that do not exist.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “ Hey, I am wiser than any of the kings that ruled in Jerusalem before I became the king. I am wiser and I know more than any of them!”

¹⁷ So I determined to learn more about being wise and to learn about knowing about many things, and also to learn about doing things that are very foolish DOU. But I found out that trying to understand those things was also useless, like chasing the wind.

¹² I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled therewith.

¹⁴ I *saw all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, *saw, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight: and deficiency can’t be numbered.

¹⁶ I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷ And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I gave my heart to searching out in wisdom all things which are done under heaven: it is a hard thing which God has put on the sons of men to do.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

¹⁵ That which is bent may not be made straight, and that which is not there may not be numbered.

¹⁶ I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem — yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷ And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I applied my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this grievous occupation hath God given to the children of men to weary themselves therewith.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and pursuit of the 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 become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷ And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind.

¹² I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,

¹³ And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.

¹⁴ I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.

¹⁵ The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.

¹⁶ I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.

¹⁷ And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,

¹² I am the Teacher, and I was king over Israel, reigning from Jerusalem.

¹³ I decided to focus my mind to explore, using wisdom, everything that happens here on earth. This is a tough assignment that God has given people to keep them busy!

¹⁴ I examined everything people do here on earth, and discovered that it's all so temporary—trying to understand it is like trying to pin down the wind!

¹⁵ You can't straighten what is twisted, and you can't count what isn't there.

¹⁶ I thought to myself, “I've become very wise, wiser than all the kings of Jerusalem before me. My mind has gained a great deal of wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ So I decided to use my mind to learn everything about wisdom, and madness and foolishness as well. But I found out that this is as hard as trying to catch hold of the wind.

¹² I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:

¹³ And I haue giuen mine heart to search and finde out wisdome by all things that are done vnder the heauen: (this sore trauaile hath GOD giuen to the sonnes of men, to humble them thereby)

¹⁴ I haue considered all the workes that are done vnder the sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.

¹⁵ That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.

¹⁶ I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold, I am become great, and excell in wisdome all them that haue bene before me in Ierusalem: and mine heart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge.

¹⁷ And I gaue mine heart to knowe wisdome and knowledge, madnes and foolishnes: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.

¹² I Koheleth have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; it is a sore task 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 spoke with my own heart, saying: 'Lo, I have gotten great wisdom, more also than all that were before me over 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.

¹² I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ 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.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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 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.

¹⁷ And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

¹² I Koheleth was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I directed my heart to inquire and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: this is an evil employment which God hath given to the sons of man to busy themselves therewith.

¹⁴ I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun: and, behold, all is vanity and a torture of the spirit.

¹⁵ What is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is defective cannot be numbered.

¹⁶ I spoke with my own heart, saying, Lo, I have truly obtained greater and more wisdom than all those who have been before me over Jerusalem: yea, my heart had seen much wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷ And I directed my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; but I have perceived that this also is a torture of the spirit.

¹² I the Preacher Was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I applied my heart to seek out And examine by wisdom concerning all things That are done under heaven, For God has given to the sons of men An evil trouble To be troubled therewith.

¹⁴ I beheld all the works That were wrought under the sun; And, behold, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.

¹⁵ That which is crooked cannot be made straight: And deficiency cannot be numbered.

¹⁶ I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, And have acquired wisdom beyond all Who were before me in Jerusalem: Also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷ And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, Parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel at Jerusalem.

¹³ And I gave my mind to seek and to search out with wisdom concerning all things which are done under heaven; an evil business, which God hath given to the sons of men, in which to employ themselves.

¹⁴ I saw all the things which are done under the sun; and, behold, it was all vanity, and striving after wind.

¹⁵ That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

¹⁶ I communed with my heart, saying, “Behold, I have gained more and greater wisdom than all who have been before me at Jerusalem; yea, my mind hath seen much wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ And I gave my mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after wind.

¹² I am the Teacher, and I have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ I applied my mind to study and to search out by wisdom everything that is done under heaven. That search is a burdensome task that God has given to the children of mankind to be busy with.

¹⁴ I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun, and look, they all amount to vapor and chasing the wind.

¹⁵ The twisted cannot be straightened! The missing cannot be counted!

¹⁶ I have spoken to my heart saying, “Look, I have acquired greater wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My mind has seen great wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ So I applied my heart to know wisdom and also madness and folly. I came to understand that this also was an attempt to shepherd the wind.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

¹² I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this grievous labor hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised with it.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

¹⁵ That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

¹⁶ I communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I have come to great estate, and have gained more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: and my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷ And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

¹² I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

¹² I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

¹⁷ I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

¹² I Ecclesiastes was king of Israel in Jerusalem;

¹³ and I purposed in my soul to seek and ensearch wisely of all things, that be made under the sun. God gave this evil occupation to the sons of men, that they should be occupied therein.

¹⁴ I saw all things that be made under the sun, and lo! all things be vanity and torment of spirit.

¹⁵ Wayward men be amended of hard; and the number of fools is great without end.

¹⁶ I spake in mine heart, and I said, Lo! I am made great, and I passed in wisdom all men, that were before me in Jerusalem; and my soul saw many things wisely, and I learned.

¹⁷ And I gave mine heart, that I should know prudence and doctrine, and errors and folly. And I knew that in these things also was travail and torment of spirit;

¹² I Ecclesiastes was king of Israel in Jerusalem;

¹³ and I purposed in my soul to seek and ensearch wisely of all things, that be made under the sun. God gave this evil occupation to the sons of men, that they should be occupied therein. (and I purposed in my mind to wisely seek out and to search into everything, that is done under the sun. God gave this difficult task to the sons and daughters of men, so that they would be occupied with it.)

¹⁴ I saw all things that be made under the sun, and lo! all things be vanity and torment of spirit. (I saw everything that is done under the sun, and behold! everything is empty and futile, like chasing the wind.)

¹⁵ Wayward men be amended of hard; and the number of fools is great without end. (The wayward can only be corrected with great difficulty; and the number of fools cannot be counted.)

¹⁶ I spake in mine heart, and I said, Lo! I am made great, and I passed in wisdom all men, that were before me in Jerusalem; and my soul saw many things wisely, and I learned. (I said in my heart, Behold! I am made great, and I have surpassed in wisdom all who were before me in Jerusalem; I have seen many things, and I have become wise, yea, I have learned much.)

¹⁷ And I gave mine heart, that I should know prudence and doctrine, and errors and folly. And I knew that in these things also was travail and torment of spirit; (And I gave my heart, or I applied my mind, so that I would understand wisdom and doctrine, and errors and foolishness. And I learned that all these things were also empty and futile, like chasing the wind;)

¹² I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³ And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It is a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit!

¹⁵ A crooked thing one is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.

¹⁶ I — I spake with my heart, saying, 'I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁷ And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this is vexation of spirit;