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1The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.[#Hebrew “Qohelet”]
2“Vanity of vanities!” says the Teacher,[#Hebrew “Qohelet”]
3What does a person gain in all his toil
4A generation goes, and a generation comes,
5The sun rises, and the sun goes down;
6The wind goes to the south and goes around to the north;
7All the streams flow to the sea,
to the place where the streams flow,
8All things toil continuously;[#Or “are wearisome”]
The eye is never satisfied with seeing,
9What has been—it is what will be;
10There is a thing of which it is said, “Look at this! This is new!”
11There is neither remembrance of former generations,
12I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.[#Hebrew “Qohelet”]
13I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. It is a grievous task God has given to humans.[#MT reads “under the heavens,” which is supported by LXX; however, several versions (Syriac Peshitta, Aramaic Targum, Latin Vulgate) as well as the Cairo Geniza manuscript read, “under the sun,” cf. 1:3, 9, etc.; #Literally “the sons of the man”]
14I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything is vanity and chasing wind.
15What is twisted cannot be straightened,[#The MT reads the active “to be straight”; however, the BHS editors suggest the passive “to be straightened,” which is supported by LXX, which reflects a passive form]
16I said to myself, “Look! I have become great and have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has preceded me over Jerusalem. I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge.”[#Literally “I myself said to my heart”; #Literally “before me”; #Literally “And my mind has seen much wisdom and knowledge”]
17So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and to learn about delusion and folly. However, I discovered that this also is chasing wind.[#Literally “So I gave my heart”; #Or “I knew”]
18For in much wisdom is much frustration,[#Or “vexation”]