Ecclesiastes

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

1 ῥήματα Ἐκκλησιαστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ βασιλέως Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.	1 Ῥήματα Ἐκκλησιαστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ βασιλέως Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israēl in Jerusalem.	1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israēl in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

2 ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων, εἶπεν ὁ Ἐκκλησιαστής, ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων τὰ πάντα ματαιότης.	2 ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων, εἶπε ὁ ἐκκλησιαστής, ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων, τὰ πάντα ματαιότης.
2 Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.	2 Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun?

3 τίς περισσεία τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ᾧ μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον;	3 τίς περισσεία τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ᾧ μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον;
3 What advantage is there to a man in all his labour that he takes under the sun?	3 What advantage is there to a man in all his labour that he takes under the sun?

4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever.

4 γενεὰ πορεύεται καὶ γενεὰ ἔρχεται, καὶ ἡ γῆ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἕστηκεν.	4 γενεὰ πορεύεται καὶ γενεὰ ἔρχεται, καὶ ἡ γῆ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἕστηκε.
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes; but the earth stands forever.	4 A generation goes, and a generation comes; but the earth stands forever.

5 The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to his place where he arose.

5 καὶ ἀνατέλλει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ δύνει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ἕλκει·	5 καὶ ἀνατέλλει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ δύνει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ἕλκει.
5 And the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws toward its place;	5 And the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws toward its place;

6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits.

6 ἀνατέλλων αὐτὸς ἐκεῖ πορεύεται πρὸς νότον καὶ κυκλοῖ πρὸς βορρᾶν· κυκλοῖ κυκλῶν, πορεύεται τὸ πνεῦμα, καὶ ἐπὶ κύκλους αὐτοῦ ἐπιστρέφει τὸ πνεῦμα.	6 αὐτὸς ἀνατέλλων ἐκεῖ πορεύεται πρὸς νότον καὶ κυκλοῖ πρὸς βορρᾶν· κυκλοῖ κυκλῶν, πορεύεται τὸ πνεῦμα, καὶ ἐπὶ κύκλους αὐτοῦ ἐπιστρέφει τὸ πνεῦμα.
6 arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits.	6 arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; to the place from where the rivers come, to that place they return again.

7 πάντες οἱ χείμαρροι, πορεύονται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἡ θάλασσα οὐκ ἔσται ἐμπιμπλαμένη· εἰς τόπον, οὗ οἱ χείμαρροι πορεύονται, ἐκεῖ αὐτοὶ ἐπιστρέφουσιν τοῦ πορευθῆναι.	7 πάντες οἱ χείμαρροι πορεύονται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἡ θάλασσα οὐκ ἐστιν ἐμπιπλαμένη· εἰς τὸν τόπον, οὗ οἱ χείμαρροι πορεύονται, ἐκεῖ αὐτοὶ ἐπιστρέφουσι τοῦ πορευθῆναι.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; and yet the sea is not filled: to the place from where the rivers come, to that place they return again.	7 All the rivers run into the sea; and yet the sea is not filled: to the place from where the rivers come, to that place they return again.

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

8 πάντες οἱ λόγοι ἔγκοποι· οὐ δυνήσεται ἀνὴρ τοῦ λαλεῖν, καὶ οὐκ ἐμπλησθήσεται ὀφθαλμὸς τοῦ ὁρᾶν, καὶ οὐ πληρωθήσεται οὖς ἀπὸ ἀκροάσεως.	8 πάντες οἱ λόγοι ἔγκοποι· οὐ δυνήσεται ἀνὴρ τοῦ λαλεῖν, καὶ οὐ πλησθήσεται ὀφθαλμὸς τοῦ ὁρᾶν, καὶ οὐ πληρωθήσεται οὖς ἀπὸ ἀκροάσεως.
8 All things are full of labour; a man won’t be able to speak of them: neither shall the eye be satisfied with seeing, neither shall the ear be filled with hearing.	8 All things are full of labour; a man won’t be able to speak of them: neither shall the eye be satisfied with seeing, neither shall the ear be filled with hearing.

9 The thing that has been, it is what shall be; and what is done is what shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.

9 τί τὸ γεγονός, αὐτὸ τὸ γενησόμενον· καὶ τί τὸ πεποιημένον, αὐτὸ τὸ ποιηθησόμενον· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν πᾶν πρόσφατον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.	9 τί τὸ γεγονός; αὐτὸ τὸ γενησόμενον· καὶ τί τί τό πεποιημένον; αὐτὸ τὸ ποιηθησόμενον· καί οὐκ ἔστι πᾶν πρόσφατον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
9 What is what has been? The very thing which shall be; and what is what has been done? The very thing which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.	9 What is what has been? The very thing which shall be; and what is what has been done? The very thing which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there anything of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has been already of old time, which was before us.

10 ὃς λαλήσει καὶ ἐρεῖ ἰδὲ τοῦτο καινόν ἐστιν, ἤδη γέγονεν ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς γενομένοις ἀπὸ ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν.	10 ὃς λαλήσει καὶ ἐρεῖ· ἰδὲ τοῦτο κενόν ἐστιν, ἤδη γέγονεν ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσι τοῖς γενομένοις ἀπὸ ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν.
10 Who is he who shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? It has already been in the ages that have passed before us.	10 Who is he who shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? It has already been in the ages that have passed before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those who shall come after.

11 οὐκ ἔστιν μνήμη τοῖς πρώτοις, καὶ γε τοῖς ἐσχάτοις γενομένοις οὐκ ἔσται αὐτοῖς μνήμη μετὰ τῶν γενησομένων εἰς τὴν ἐσχάτην.	11 οὐκ ἔστι μνήμη τοῖς πρώτοις, καί γε τοῖς ἐσχάτοις γενομένοις οὐκ ἔσται αὐτῶν μνήμη μετὰ τῶν γενησομένων εἰς τὴν ἐσχάτην.
11 There is no memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with those who shall at the last time.	11 There is no memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with those who shall at the last time.

12 I the Preacher was king over Israēl in Jerusalem.

12 ἐγὼ ἐκκλησιαστὴς ἐγενόμην βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ·	12 ἐγὼ ἐκκλησιαστὴς ἐγενόμην βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ·
12 I the Preacher was king over Israēl in Jerusalem.	12 I the Preacher was king over Israēl in Jerusalem.

13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail has God given to the sons of man to be exercised with it.

13 καὶ ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου τοῦ ἐκζητῆσαι καὶ τοῦ κατασκέψασθαι ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ περὶ πάντων τῶν γινομένων ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν· ὅτι περισπασμὸν πονηρὸν ἔδωκεν ὁ θεὸς τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ περισπᾶσθαι ἐν αὐτῷ.	13 καὶ ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου τοῦ ἐκζητῆσαι καὶ τοῦ κατασκέψασθαι ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ περὶ πάντων τῶν γινομένων ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν· ὅτι περισπασμὸν πονηρὸν ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τοῦ περισπᾶσθαι ἐν αὐτῷ.
13 And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled with it.	13 And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled with it.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

14 εἶδον σὺν πάντα τὰ ποιήματα τὰ πεποιημένα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.	14 εἶδον σὺν πάντα τὰ ποιήματα τὰ πεποιημένα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
14 I beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, beheld, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.	14 I beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, beheld, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and what is wanting cannot be numbered.

15 διεστραμμένον οὐ δυνήσεται τοῦ ἐπικοσμηθῆναι, καὶ ὑστέρημα οὐ δυνήσεται τοῦ ἀριθμηθῆναι.	15 διεστραμμένον οὐ δυνήσεται ἐπικοσμηθῆναι, καὶ ὑστέρημα οὐ δυνήσεται ἀριθμηθῆναι.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and deficiency cannot be numbered.	15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and deficiency cannot be numbered.

16 I communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they who have been before me in Jerusalem: yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

16 ἐλάλησα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου τῷ λέγειν ἐγὼ ἰδοὺ ἐμεγαλύνθην καὶ προσέθηκα σοφίαν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἳ ἐγένοντο ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ καρδία μου εἶδεν πολλά, σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν.	16 ἐλάλησα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου τῷ λέγειν· ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐμεγαλύνθην καὶ προσέθηκα σοφίαν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἳ ἐγένοντο ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἔδωκα καρδίαν μου τοῦ γνῶναι σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν.
16 I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.	16 I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.

17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

17 καὶ ἔδωκα καρδίαν μου τοῦ γνῶναι σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν, παραβολὰς καὶ ἐπιστήμην ἔγνων, ὅτι καὶ γε τοῦτ’ ἔστιν προαίρεσις πνεύματος·	17 καὶ καρδία μου εἶδε πολλά, σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν, παραβολὰς καὶ ἐπιστήμην ἔγνων ἐγώ, ὅτι καί γε τοῦτό ἔστι προαίρεσις πνεύματος·
17 And my heart knew much–wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.	17 And my heart knew much–wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

18 ὅτι ἐν πλήθει σοφίας πλῆθος γνώσεως, καὶ ὁ προστιθεὶς γνῶσιν προσθήσει ἄλγημα.	18 ὅτι ἐν πλήθει σοφίας πλῆθος γνώσεως, καὶ ὁ προστιθεὶς γνῶσιν προσθήσει ἄλγημα.
18 For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he who increases knowledge will increase sorrow.	18 For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he who increases knowledge will increase sorrow.