Vanity of All Things
Ecclesiastes 1
The Preacher, identified as the son of David and king in Jerusalem, declares that all things are vanity and observes the fixed cycles of the sun, wind, and rivers along with the sameness of all that occurs under the sun. He then describes applying his heart to seek out wisdom beyond all who came before him in Jerusalem, only to find that great wisdom brings great sorrow.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHE words of the preacher, the son of David [and] king of Israel in Jerusalem:
BrentonThe words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.
GreekῬΗΜΑΤΑ Ἐκκλησιαστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ βασιλέως Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVThe words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
JPSTHE WORDs OF the Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2
ThomsonVanity of vanities, said the preacher. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.
BrentonVanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
GreekΜαταιότης ματαιοτήτων, εἶπεν ὁ Ἐκκλησιαστὴς, ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων, τὰ πάντα ματαιότης.
KJVVanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
JPSVanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3
ThomsonWhat lasting advantage hath a man by all the labour with which he toileth under the sun?
BrentonWhat advantage is there to a man in all his labour that he takes under the sun?
GreekΤίς περίσσεια τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ ᾧ μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον;
KJVWhat profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
JPSWhat profit hath man of all his labour Wherein he laboureth under the sun?
4
ThomsonOne generation passeth away and another cometh. But the earth hath continually kept its station.
BrentonA generation goes, and a generation comes: but the earth stands for ever.
GreekΓενεὰ πορεύεται καὶ γενεὰ ἔρχεται, καὶ ἡ γῆ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἕστηκε.
KJVOne generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
JPSOne generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; And the earth abideth for ever.
5
ThomsonThe sun riseth and the sun setteth and cometh round to his place.
BrentonAnd the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws toward its place;
GreekΚαὶ ἀνατέλλει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ δύνει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ἕλκει·
KJVThe sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
JPSThe sun also ariseth, And the sun goeth down, And hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
6
ThomsonRising there he marcheth southward, then wheeleth about to the north. The wind wheeleth in circuits, and in its circuits it returneth.
Brentonarising there it proceeds southward, and goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits.
Greekαὐτὸς ἀνατέλλων ἐκεῖ πορεύεται πρὸς Νότον, καὶ κυκλοῖ πρὸς Βοῤῥᾶν· κυκλοῖ κυκλῶν πορεύεται τὸ πνεῦμα, καὶ ἐπὶ κύκλους αὐτοῦ ἐπιστρέφει τὸ πνεῦμα.
KJVThe wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
JPSThe wind goeth toward the south, And turneth about unto the north; It turneth about continually in its circuit, And the wind returneth again to its circuits.
7
ThomsonAll the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not filled. To the place whence the rivers come, thither they return to continue their course.
BrentonAll the rivers run into the sea; and yet the sea is not filled: to the place whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
GreekΠάντες οἱ χείμαῤῥοι πορεύονται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἡ θάλασσα οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμπιμπλαμένη· εἰς τὸν τόπον οὗ οἱ χείμαῤῥοι πορεύονται, ἐκεῖ αὐτοὶ ἐπιστρέφουσι τοῦ πορευθῆναι.
KJVAll the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
JPSAll the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; Unto the place whither the rivers go, Thither they go again.
8
ThomsonAll these considerations are wearisome. Man cannot recount them: nor can the eye be satisfied with seeing; nor the ear filled with hearing.
BrentonAll things are full of labour; a man will not be able to speak of them: neither shall the eye be satisfied with seeing, neither shall the ear be filled with hearing.
GreekΠάντες οἱ λόγοι ἔγκοποι, οὐ δυνήσεται ἀνὴρ τοῦ λαλεῖν· καὶ οὐ πλησθήσεται ὀφθαλμὸς τοῦ ὁρᾷν, καὶ οὐ πληρωθήσεται οὖς ἀπὸ ἀκροάσεως.
KJVAll things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
JPSAll things toil to weariness; Man cannot utter it, The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.
9
ThomsonWhat is that which hath been? The very same which shall be. And what is that which hath been done? The very same which shall be done: for there is nothing entirely new under the sun.
BrentonWhat is that which has been? the very thing which shall be: and what is that which has been done? the very thing which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
GreekΤί τὸ γεγονός; αὐτὸ τὸ γενησόμενον· καὶ τί τὸ πεποιημένον; αὐτὸ τὸ ποιηθησόμενον· καὶ οὐκ ἔστι πᾶν πρόσφατον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
KJVThe thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
JPSThat which hath been is that which shall be, And that which hath been done is that which shall be done; And there is nothing new under the sun.
10
ThomsonWho can speak and say, Behold this is entirely new. It hath been already in the ages past which were before us.
BrentonWho is he that shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? it has already been in the ages that have passed before us.
GreekὋς λαλήσει καὶ ἐρεῖ, ἴδε τοῦτο καινόν ἐστιν; ἤδη γέγονεν ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσι τοῖς γενομένοις ἀπὸ ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν.
KJVIs there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
JPSIs there a thing whereof it is said: ‘See, this is new’?—it hath been already, in the ages which were before us.
11
Thomson—
BrentonThere is no memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with them that shall be at the last time.
GreekΟὐκ ἔστι μνήμη τοῖς πρώτοις, καί γε τοῖς ἐσχάτοις γενομένοις οὐκ ἔσται αὐτῶν μνήμη μετὰ τῶν γενησομένων εἰς τὴν ἐσχάτην.
KJVThere is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
JPS—
12
ThomsonI, the preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem;
BrentonI the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
GreekἘγὼ ἐκκλησιαστὴς ἐγενόμην βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVI the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
JPSI Koheleth have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13
Thomsonand I applied my heart to seek and make diligent search by wisdom concerning all the things which are done on the earth. Because God hath assigned to the sons of men painful employment, that they may be kept employed,
BrentonAnd 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 therewith.
GreekΚαὶ 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.
KJVAnd I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
JPSAnd I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; it is a sore task that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
14
ThomsonI took a view of all the different sorts of work which are done under the sun. And behold they are all vanity and vexation of spirit.
BrentonI beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, behold, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.
GreekΕἶδον σύμπαντα τὰ ποιήματα τὰ πεποιημένα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον· καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
KJVI have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
JPSI have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15
ThomsonThat which is crooked cannot be made straight, nor can wants be numbered.
BrentonThat which is crooked cannot be made straight: and deficiency cannot be numbered.
GreekΔιεστραμμένον οὐ δυνήσεται ἐπικοσμηθῆναι, καὶ ὑστέρημα οὐ δυνήσεται ἀριθμηθῆναι.
KJVThat which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
JPSThat which is crooked cannot be made straight; And that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16
ThomsonI communed with my heart, saying, Behold I am become great and have made advances in wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. And I have applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge.
BrentonI 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.
GreekἘλάλησα 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.
KJVI communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
JPSI spoke with my own heart, saying: ‘Lo, I have gotten great wisdom, more also than all that were before me over Jerusalem’; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17
ThomsonAnd my mind hath taken a view of many things—of wisdom and knowledge—of parables and science.
BrentonAnd my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.
GreekΚαὶ καρδία μου εἶδε πολλὰ, σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν, παραβολὰς καὶ ἐπιστήμην· ἔγνων ἐγώ ὅτι καί γε τοῦτό ἐστι προαίρεσις πνεύματος·
KJVAnd I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
JPSAnd I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly—I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
18
ThomsonI have found by experience that this also is indeed vexation of spirit. Because by much wisdom there is much knowledge: and he who addeth to his knowledge will add to his sorrow.
BrentonFor in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he that increases knowledge will increase sorrow.
GreekὍτι ἐν πλήθει σοφίας πλῆθος γνώσεως, καὶ ὁ προστιθεὶς γνῶσιν, προσθήσει ἄλγημα.
KJVFor in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
JPSFor in much wisdom is much vexation; And he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.