Old Testament

New Testament

Ecclesiastes 1:7-18 English Revised Version (ERV)

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 men say, See, this is new? it hath been already, 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.

Read complete chapter Ecclesiastes 1