Ecclesiastes 1
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International Standard VersionNET Bible
1The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.1The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2"Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Absolutely pointless; everything is pointless."2"Futile! Futile!" laments the Teacher, "Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!"
3What does a man gain from all of the work that he undertakes on earth? 3What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?
4A generation goes, a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.4A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains the same through the ages.
5The sun rises, the sun sets, then rushes back to where it arose.5The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries away to a place from which it rises again.
6The wind blows southward, then northward, constantly circulating, and the wind comes back again in its courses.6The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round the wind goes and on its rounds it returns.
7All the rivers flow toward the sea, but the sea is never full; then rivers return to the headwaters where they began.7All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.
8Everything is wearisome, more than man is able to express. The eye is never satisfied by seeing, nor the ear by hearing.8All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing.
9Whatever has happened, will happen again; whatever has been done, will be done again. There is nothing new on earth.9What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.
10Does anything exist about which someone might say, "Look at this! Is this new?" It happened ages ago; it existed before we did.10Is there anything about which someone can say, "Look at this! It is new!"? It was already done long ago, before our time.
11No one remembers those in the past, nor will they be remembered by those who come after them.11No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations.
12I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 12I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13I dedicated myself to using wisdom for study and discovery of everything that is done under heaven. God uses terrible things so human beings will struggle with life.13I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.
14I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless—like chasing after the wind.14I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile--like chasing the wind!
15What is crooked cannot be made straight; what is not there cannot be counted.15What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.
16I told myself, "I have become greater and wiser than anyone who ruled before me in Jerusalem—yes, I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge." 16I thought to myself, "I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge."
17So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and knowledge, and about insanity and foolishness. And I discovered that this is also like chasing after the wind.17So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!
18For with much wisdom there is much sorrow; the more someone adds to knowledge, the more someone adds to grief.18For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.
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Proverbs 31
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