Ecclesiastes 1

King James Version

Full text for Ecclesiastes Chapter 1

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

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

3What 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.

5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8All 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.

10Is 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.

13And 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.

14I 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.

16I 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.

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

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The Preacher, son of David and king in Jerusalem, declares that all is "vanity of vanities," questioning the ultimate profit of human labor under the sun. He observes the ceaseless, cyclical patterns of nature and generations, concluding that there is "no new thing under the sun." His personal quest for wisdom and knowledge ultimately leads to vexation of spirit and increased sorrow.

Medium Summary

The book opens with the Preacher, identified as the son of David and king in Jerusalem, proclaiming that "all is vanity" and questioning the ultimate profit of human toil. He illustrates this through the unchanging cycles of nature: generations come and go while the earth endures, the sun rises and sets, winds circulate, and rivers flow endlessly without filling the sea. The Preacher asserts that there is "no new thing under the sun," as past events are forgotten and future ones will likewise fade. He recounts his personal quest to understand all things by wisdom, concluding that all works observed are "vanity and vexation of spirit." Even his extensive acquisition of wisdom and knowledge only led to increased grief and sorrow.

Long Summary

The chapter introduces the Preacher, identified as the son of David and king in Jerusalem, who immediately pronounces the central theme: "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity." He poses a fundamental question regarding the lasting profit a man gains from his labor "under the sun." To illustrate this futility, the Preacher observes the relentless, unchanging cycles of the natural world: generations succeed one another while the earth remains constant, the sun perpetually rises and sets, the wind continually whirls in its circuits, and rivers ceaselessly flow into the sea without filling it, only to return to their source. He notes that all things are full of labor, yet human senses are never satisfied. A core assertion is that "there is no new thing under the sun," as what has been will be again, and there is no remembrance of former things, nor will future events be remembered by those who follow. The Preacher then recounts his personal endeavor as king to apply his heart to seek and search out wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven, describing this pursuit as a "sore travail" given by God. After observing all the works under the sun, he concludes that everything is "vanity and vexation of spirit," emphasizing that what is crooked cannot be straightened, nor what is wanting numbered. He further details his unparalleled acquisition of wisdom and knowledge, surpassing all who came before him in Jerusalem, and his exploration of both wisdom and folly. Yet, this extensive intellectual pursuit also proved to be "vexation of spirit," leading him to the final, somber conclusion that "in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."

Core Concepts

  • Vanity of VanitiesThe central declaration of the Preacher, stating that all existence and human endeavor "under the sun" is ultimately meaningless, futile, and without lasting profit.
  • Cyclical Nature of ExistenceIllustrated by the unchanging patterns of the sun, wind, and rivers, and the succession of generations, which demonstrate a repetitive, ceaseless motion that yields no ultimate progress or satisfaction.
  • Lack of NoveltyThe assertion that "there is no new thing under the sun," meaning that all events and experiences are repetitions of what has already occurred, and past deeds are forgotten.
  • Futility of LaborThe questioning of what lasting profit a man gains from his toil, as the endless cycles of nature and the insatiable desires of the senses suggest that effort does not lead to ultimate fulfillment or satisfaction.
  • Quest for WisdomThe Preacher's personal endeavor as king to diligently seek and search out understanding through wisdom concerning all things done under heaven.
  • Vexation of SpiritThe Preacher's conclusion that his observations of all works under the sun, and even his extensive pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, ultimately result in a weariness, frustration, or striving after wind.
  • Increase of Sorrow with KnowledgeThe somber realization that accumulating great wisdom and knowledge does not bring happiness or peace, but rather leads to increased grief and sorrow.