Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:10
Christian Standard Bible
Everything Is Futile
1 The words of the Teacher,[a](A) son of David, king in Jerusalem.(B)
2 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.
“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”(C)
3 What does a person gain for all his efforts
that he labors at under the sun?(D)
4 A generation goes and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.(E)
5 The sun rises and the sun sets;
panting, it hurries back to the place(F)
where it rises.
6 Gusting to the south,
turning to the north,
turning, turning, goes the wind,(G)
and the wind returns in its cycles.
7 All the streams flow to the sea,
yet the sea is never full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things[b] are wearisome,
more than anyone can say.
The eye is not satisfied by seeing(H)
or the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Can one say about anything,
“Look, this is new”?
It has already existed in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of those who[c] came before;(I)
and of those who will come after
there will also be no remembrance
by those who follow them.
The Limitations of Wisdom
12 I, the Teacher,(J) have been[d] king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to examine(K) and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven.(L) God has given people[e] this miserable task to keep them occupied.(M) 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.[f](N)
15 What is crooked cannot be straightened;(O)
what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me,(P) and my mind has thoroughly grasped[g] wisdom and knowledge.” 17 I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge,(Q) madness and folly;(R) I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.(S)
18 For with much wisdom is much sorrow;(T)
as knowledge increases, grief increases.
The Emptiness of Pleasure
2 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure;(U) enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. 2 I said about laughter,(V) “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” 3 I explored with my mind the pull of wine(W) on my body—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to grasp folly,(X) until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven[h] during the few days of their lives.(Y)
The Emptiness of Possessions
4 I increased my achievements. I built houses(Z) and planted vineyards(AA) for myself. 5 I made gardens(AB) and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. 6 I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.(AC) 7 I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house.(AD) I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.(AE) 8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.(AF) I gathered male and female singers for myself,(AG) and many concubines, the delights of men.[i][j] 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem;(AH) my wisdom also remained with me. 10 All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them.(AI) I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.(AJ)
Footnotes
- 1:1 Or of Qoheleth, or of the Leader of the Assembly
- 1:8 Or words
- 1:11 Or of the things that
- 1:12 Or Teacher, was
- 1:13 Or given the descendants of Adam
- 1:14 Or a feeding on wind, or an affliction of spirit; also in v. 17
- 1:16 Or discerned
- 2:3 Two Hb mss, LXX, Syr read the sun
- 2:8 LXX, Theod, Syr read and male cupbearers and female cupbearers; Aq, Tg, Vg read a cup and cups; Hb obscure
- 2:8 Or many treasures that people delight in
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