1:4 A generation comes 1 and a generation goes, 2
but the earth remains 3 the same 4 through the ages. 5
1:5 The sun rises 6 and the sun sets; 7
it hurries away 8 to a place from which it rises 9 again. 10
1:6 The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north;
round and round 11 the wind goes and on its rounds it returns. 12
1:7 All the streams flow 13 into the sea, but the sea is not full,
and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again. 14
1:8 All this 15 monotony 16 is tiresome; no one can bear 17 to describe it: 18
The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content 19 with hearing.
1:9 What exists now 20 is what will be, 21
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing truly new on earth. 22
1:10 Is there anything about which someone can say, “Look at this! It is new!”? 23
It was already 24 done long ago, 25 before our time. 26
1:11 No one remembers the former events, 27
nor will anyone remember 28 the events that are yet to happen; 29
they will not be remembered by the future generations. 30
1:12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 31
1:13 I decided 32 to carefully 33 and thoroughly examine 34
all that has been accomplished on earth. 35
I concluded: 36 God has given people 37 a burdensome task 38
that keeps them 39 occupied. 40
1:14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man 41 on earth, 42
and I concluded: Everything 43 he has accomplished 44 is futile 45 – like chasing the wind! 46
1:15 What is bent 47 cannot be straightened, 48
and what is missing 49 cannot be supplied. 50
1:16 I thought to myself, 51
“I have become much wiser 52 than any of my predecessors who ruled 53 over Jerusalem; 54
I 55 have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.” 56
1:17 So I decided 57 to discern the benefit of 58 wisdom and knowledge over 59 foolish behavior and ideas; 60
however, I concluded 61 that even 62 this endeavor 63 is like 64 trying to chase the wind! 65
1:18 For with great wisdom comes 66 great frustration;
whoever increases his 67 knowledge merely 68 increases his 69 heartache.