Ecclesiastes 1

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 1 of 12

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

² Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity!

³ What is the profit to a man in all his labor which he labors under the sun?

⁴ A generation goes away, and another generation comes; but the earth stands forever.

Chapter Summary

The preacher shows that all human courses are vain: they bring forth nothing new.

קֹהֶ֣לֶת collector H6953 · TWOT 1991c

עִנְיַ֣ן occupation H6045 · TWOT 1651a

יִּתְר֖וֹן advantage H3504 · TWOT 936f

הוֹלֵל֖וֹת madness H1947 · TWOT 501a

הֲבֵ֤ל vapour H1892 · TWOT 463a

Introduction of the Preacher

The author identifies as the Preacher, the son of David and king in Jerusalem.

The Thesis of Vanity

The Preacher declares that all is vanity and questions what profit a man has from his labor under the sun.

The Cycles of Nature

Generations pass while the earth remains, the sun rises and sets, the wind circles continually, and rivers perpetually flow into the unfillable sea.

Introduction of the Preacher

The author identifies as the Preacher, the son of David and king in Jerusalem.

Ecclesiastes 1:1

The Thesis of Vanity

The Preacher declares that all is vanity and questions what profit a man has from his labor under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

The Cycles of Nature

Generations pass while the earth remains, the sun rises and sets, the wind circles continually, and rivers perpetually flow into the unfillable sea.

Ecclesiastes 1:4-7

Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.