Ecclesiastes 1
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1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” 3What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? 4One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9That 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. 10Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new?” It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after. 12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13I 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. 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 15That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. 16I 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.” 17I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. 18For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
World English Bible (public domain)
“'Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.'”
Ecclesiastes 1:2
Summary
Ecclesiastes chapter 1 introduces the primary speaker, often identified as 'The Preacher' or Qoheleth, who reflects on the vanity and fleeting nature of life. He begins with a powerful declaration that 'all is vanity,' suggesting that everything is ultimately meaningless. This chapter sets the tone for the book as it wrestles with the complexities and apparent futility of human existence. The constant cycles of nature, such as the rising and setting of the sun, the blowing of the wind, and the flowing of rivers, are described as metaphors for life's repetitive, elusive, and ultimately unsatisfying quest for meaning and permanence. The Preacher observes that there is no true novelty in life; what has been will be again, and there is nothing new under the sun. This observation leads to a sense of weariness and disillusionment with the cycles of life. The chapter concludes with the Preacher's personal journey, pursuing wisdom and knowledge, only to find that this too is a striving after wind. Despite the Preacher's vast learning, he finds greater understanding brings more grief, emphasizing the paradox that increased wisdom leads to increased sorrow.
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