Ecclesiastes 1:5-17

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

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

⁷All the rivers run into the sea; and yet the sea is not filled: to the place whence the rivers come, there they return again.

⁸All things are full of labor; a man will not be able to speak of them: neither shall the eye be satisfied with seeing, neither shall the ear be filled with hearing.

⁹What is that which has been? the very thing which shall be: and what is that which has been done? the very thing which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

¹⁰Who is he that shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? it has already been in the ages that have passed before us.

¹¹There is no memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with them that shall at the last time.

¹²I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

¹³And 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.

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

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

¹⁶I 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.

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