Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”

3What advantage does man have from all his work Which he does under the sun (while earthbound)?

4One generation goes and another generation comes, But the earth remains forever.

5Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And hurries to the place where it rises again.

6The wind blows toward the south, Then circles toward the north; The wind circles and swirls endlessly, And on its circular course the wind returns.

7All the rivers flow into the sea, Yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, There they flow again.

8All things are wearisome and all words are frail; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing.

9That which has been is that which will be [again], And that which has been done is that which will be done again. So there is nothing new under the sun.

10Is there anything of which it can be said, “See this, it is new”? It has already existed for [the vast] ages [of time recorded or unrecorded] Which were before us.

11There is no remembrance of earlier things, Nor also of the later things that are to come; There will be for them no remembrance By generations who will come after them.