Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 1

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Composition of Qoheleth son of David, king in Jerusalem.	1 Composition of Qoheleth son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Sheer futility, Qoheleth says. Sheer futility: everything is futile!	2 Sheer futility, Qoheleth says. Sheer futility: everything is futile!
3 What profit can we show for al our toil, toiling under the sun?	3 What profit can we show for al our toil, toiling under the sun?
4 A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever.	4 A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever.
5 The sun rises, the sun sets; then to its place it speeds and there it rises.	5 The sun rises, the sun sets; then to its place it speeds and there it rises.
6 Southward goes the wind, then turns to the north; it turns and turns again; then back to its circling goesthe wind.	6 Southward goes the wind, then turns to the north; it turns and turns again; then back to its circling goesthe wind.
7 Into the sea go al the rivers, and yet the sea is never fil ed, and stil to their goal the rivers go.	7 Into the sea go al the rivers, and yet the sea is never fil ed, and stil to their goal the rivers go.
8 Al things are wearisome. No one can say that eyes have not had enough of seeing, ears their fil ofhearing.	8 Al things are wearisome. No one can say that eyes have not had enough of seeing, ears their fil ofhearing.
9 What was, wil be again, what has been done, wil be done again, and there is nothing new under thesun!	9 What was, wil be again, what has been done, wil be done again, and there is nothing new under thesun!
10 Take anything which people acclaim as being new: it existed in the centuries preceding us.	10 Take anything which people acclaim as being new: it existed in the centuries preceding us.
11 No memory remains of the past, and so it wil be for the centuries to come -- they will not beremembered by their successors.	11 No memory remains of the past, and so it wil be for the centuries to come -- they will not beremembered by their successors.
12 I, Qoheleth, have reigned over Israel in Jerusalem.	12 I, Qoheleth, have reigned over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 Wisely I have applied myself to investigation and exploration of everything that happens under heaven.What a wearisome task God has given humanity to keep us busy!	13 Wisely I have applied myself to investigation and exploration of everything that happens under heaven.What a wearisome task God has given humanity to keep us busy!
14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun: how futile it al is, mere chasing after the wind!	14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun: how futile it al is, mere chasing after the wind!
15 What is twisted cannot be straightened, what is not there cannot be counted.	15 What is twisted cannot be straightened, what is not there cannot be counted.
16 I thought to myself: I have acquired a greater stock of wisdom than anyone before me in Jerusalem. Imyself have mastered every kind of wisdom and science.	16 I thought to myself: I have acquired a greater stock of wisdom than anyone before me in Jerusalem. Imyself have mastered every kind of wisdom and science.
17 I have applied myself to understanding philosophy and science, stupidity and fol y, and I now realisethat all this too is chasing after the wind.	17 I have applied myself to understanding philosophy and science, stupidity and fol y, and I now realisethat all this too is chasing after the wind.
18 Much wisdom, much grief; the more knowledge, the more sorrow.	18 Much wisdom, much grief; the more knowledge, the more sorrow.