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.
7. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
8. All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9. That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.