Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

New Living Translation

1 These are the words of the Teacher,^[a] King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.

²“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”

³What do people get for all their hard work under the sun?

1:1 Hebrew Qoheleth; this term is rendered “the Teacher” throughout this book.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

Common English Bible

1 The words of the Teacher of the Assembly,^[a] David’s son, king in Jerusalem:

²Perfectly pointless,^[b] says the Teacher, perfectly pointless.
Everything is pointless.

³What do people gain from all the hard work
that they work so hard at under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 1:1 Or Gatherer or Convener or Assembler (Heb Qoheleth); see also 1:2, 12; 7:27; 12:8, 9, 10.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 Or meaningless or vapor or puff of air (Heb hebel, which often occurs in the book)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Common English Bible (CEB)