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Ecclesiastes 1

World English Bible

WEB

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, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 introduces the profound reflections of the Preacher, traditionally understood to be King #Solomon. The chapter begins with the famous declaration, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2, ESV), emphasizing the fleeting nature of human endeavors and the ultimate futility of worldly pursuits. This theme of vanity sets the tone for the entire book, as the Preacher grapples with the meaning of life and the repetitive cycles of existence. He observes that generations come and go, yet the earth remains unchanged, highlighting the transient nature of human life in contrast to the permanence of creation (Ecclesiastes 1:4-7).

The Preacher further reflects on the weariness of labor, stating that "what has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done" (Ecclesiastes 1:9, ESV). This cyclical view of life leads him to question the value of wisdom and knowledge, as he finds that increased knowledge brings increased sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18). Ultimately, the chapter invites readers to ponder the limitations of human understanding and the search for meaning in a world that often seems meaningless. Through these reflections, the Preacher encourages a deeper contemplation of life’s purpose and the divine sovereignty that undergirds all existence, reminding us that true fulfillment cannot be found in earthly pursuits but in a relationship with God.

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Referenced by

  1. Proverbs 30:15-16v8Proverbs 30:15-16 speaks of things that are never satisfied, paralleling Ecclesiastes 1:8, which describes the insatiable nature of human desires and the endless cycle of seeking fulfillment.

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