Ecclesiastes 1
Vanity of Vanities
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Kingdom: Ecclesiastes 1:12. Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 7:27
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 2:11, 2:17, 2:19, 2:23, 2:26, 4:4, 5:10, 12:8, Psalms 144:4, Romans 8:20 +5
3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 2:11, 2:19, 2:22, 3:9, 5:16, Isaiah 55:2, Matthew 16:26, John 6:27 +3
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 6:12, Psalms 104:5, Zechariah 1:5, Matthew 24:35
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither 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.
9 The 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. Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 2:12, 3:15, 6:10, 7:10, Isaiah 43:19, Jeremiah 31:22, 2 Peter 2:1, Revelation 21:1 +3
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
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. Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 2:16, 9:5, Psalms 9:6, Isaiah 42:9
The Preacher's Quest for Meaning
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel 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 hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. References God: Ecclesiastes 3:10. Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 1:17, 7:25, 8:9, Genesis 3:19, Psalms 111:2, Proverbs 4:7, 18:1, 18:15, 23:26 +5
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Spirit: Ecclesiastes 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 4:4, 6:9
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I 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. References Jerusalem: Ecclesiastes 2:9. Parallel theme: 1 Kings 4:30, 10:7, 2 Chronicles 2:12, Hebrews 5:14
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 2:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:21
18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Parallel theme: Ecclesiastes 2:15, 2:23, 7:16, Job 28:28