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Ecclesiastes 1
Qoheleth, "son of David, king in Jerusalem," opens with the verdict that frames the whole book: "Vanity of vanities... all is vanity." Generations pass, the sun circles back, rivers pour into a sea that never fills, and nothing genuinely new appears "under the sun." Watch how the argument shifts from cosmic cycles (vv. 4-11) to the Preacher's own experiment: he applies his heart to wisdom, only to call even that a chasing after wind.
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The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
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“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
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What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
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One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
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The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
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The 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.
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All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
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All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
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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.
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Is 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.
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There 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.
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I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
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I 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.
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I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
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That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
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I 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.”
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I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
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For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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PALABRAS del Predicador, hijo de David, rey en Jerusalem.
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Vanidad de vanidades, dijo el Predicador; vanidad de vanidades, todo vanidad.
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¿Qué provecho tiene el hombre de todo su trabajo con que se afana debajo del sol?
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Generación va, y generación viene: mas la tierra siempre permanece.
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Y sale el sol, y pónese el sol, y con deseo vuelve á su lugar donde torna á nacer.
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El viento tira hacia el mediodía, y rodea al norte; va girando de continuo, y á sus giros torna el viento de nuevo.
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Los ríos todos van á la mar, y la mar no se hinche; al lugar de donde los ríos vinieron, allí tornan para correr de nuevo.
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Todas las cosas andan en trabajo más que el hombre pueda decir: ni los ojos viendo se hartan de ver, ni los oídos se hinchen de oir.
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¿Qué es lo que fué? Lo mismo que será. ¿Qué es lo que ha sido hecho? Lo mismo que se hará: y nada hay nuevo debajo del sol.
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¿Hay algo de que se pueda decir: He aquí esto es nuevo? Ya fué en los siglos que nos han precedido.
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No hay memoria de lo que precedió, ni tampoco de lo que sucederá habrá memoria en los que serán después.
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Yo el Predicador fuí rey sobre Israel en Jerusalem.
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Y dí mi corazón á inquirir y buscar con sabiduría sobre todo lo que se hace debajo del cielo: este penoso trabajo dió Dios á los hijos de los hombres, en que se ocupen.
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Yo miré todas las obras que se hacen debajo del sol; y he aquí, todo ello es vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
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Lo torcido no se puede enderezar; y lo falto no puede contarse.
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Hablé yo con mi corazón, diciendo: He aquí hállome yo engrandecido, y he crecido en sabiduría sobre todos los que fueron antes de mí en Jerusalem; y mi corazón ha percibido muchedumbre de sabiduría y ciencia.
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Y dí mi corazón á conocer la sabiduría, y también á entender las locuras y los desvaríos: conocí que aun esto era aflicción de espíritu.
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Porque en la mucha sabiduría hay mucha molestia; y quien añade ciencia, añade dolor.
The weight of wisdom itself
The chapter ends on a startling note for a wisdom book: knowing more does not lighten the burden. "For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (v. 18). The crooked that "can't be made straight" (v. 15) sets up the tension the next chapters test by experiment rather than by claim.
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