Words of Qoheleth, son of David, king in Yerushalayim.

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

What advantage is there for humankind in all their toil which they toil under the sun?

A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth stands forever.

And the sun rises and the sun sets, and to its place it hurries, there it rises.

It goes to the south and circles to the north; it circles, circles, the wind goes, and to its circuits the wind returns.

All the streams go to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams go, there they return to go.

All things are weary; a person cannot speak. The eye is not satisfied to see, and the ear is not filled with hearing.

What has been, that will be, and what has been done, that will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there a thing of which one says, 'Look, this is new'? It has already been for ages which were before us.

There is no remembrance of the former ones, and also for the latter ones who will be, there will be no remembrance with those who will be later.

I, Qoheleth, was king over Yisra'el in Yerushalayim.

And I set my heart to seek and to search with wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens; it is a bad affair that Elohim has given to the children of humankind to be occupied with.

I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

I spoke with my heart, saying, 'Behold, I have magnified and added wisdom to all who were before me over Yerushalayim, and my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.'

And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I knew that this also is a chasing after wind.

For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases pain.