1The words of Qoheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2Vanity of vanities, said Qoheleth, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3What profit is there for man (adam) in all his labor that he labors under the sun?
4A generation goes, and a generation comes, and the earth stands forever.
5And the sun rises, and the sun goes down, and to its place it pants, there rising.
6Going toward the south, and turning around to the north, turning, turning goes the spirit (ruach), and upon its circuits the spirit (ruach) returns.
7All the streams go to the sea, and the sea is not full; to the place where the streams go, there they return to go.
8All the words are wearisome; man (ish) is not able to speak; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, and the ear is not filled with hearing.
9What has been, it is what will be, and what has been done, it is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.
10Is there a thing of which one says, "See, this is new"? It has already been in the ages that were before us.
11There is no remembrance of the former things; and also of the latter things that will be, there will be no remembrance of them with those who will be afterward.
12I, Qoheleth, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13And I gave my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens; it is an evil matter that God has given to the sons of man (adam) to be afflicted with.
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after spirit (ruach).
15What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16I spoke, I, with my heart, saying, "I, behold, I have made great and added wisdom over all who were before me over Jerusalem; and my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge."
17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; I knew that this also is a striving after spirit (ruach).
18For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.