Ecclesiastes, 1

Name: Ecclesiastes
Author: Author's Name
ISBN: Your ISBN Number

Pride Life Wisdom Understanding Work Creation

The author reflects on the vanity of life and the futility of striving for success, wealth, and pleasure.

verses

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min

Bible version

Vanity of Life

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

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

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Commentary

In the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 1, the author, King Solomon, reflects on the vanity of life. He begins by noting that everything is “vanity and a striving after wind” (verse 14). He goes on to explain that no matter how much knowledge or wisdom a person has, it is all ultimately meaningless. He also notes that the same fate awaits all people, regardless of their station in life. Solomon then turns his attention to the cyclical nature of life. He observes that the sun rises and sets, the wind blows in circles, and rivers flow back to the sea. He concludes that all of these things are “vanity” and that no one can truly understand the workings of the universe. The chapter ends with Solomon’s conclusion that “all is vanity” (verse 2:11). He acknowledges that life is fleeting and that no one can truly understand the meaning of life. He encourages readers to enjoy life while they can, but to also remember that it is ultimately meaningless.