[1] The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
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[2] Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
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[3] What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes under the sun?
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[4] One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth stays for ever.
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[5] The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to his place where he arose.
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[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.
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[7] All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; to the place from where the rivers come, thither they return again.
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[8] All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
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[9] The thing that has 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.
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[10] Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it has been already of old time, which was before us.
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[11] There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. ¶
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[12] I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
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[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 therewith.
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[14] I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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[15] That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
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[16] I communed with my own heart, saying, See, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
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[17] And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
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[18] For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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