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.
7. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again.
8. All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.
9. What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done.