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ECC Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12

Open English Translation ECC Chapter 1

◄ ECC 1 ► ║ ═ ©

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

1 The following are the words of the leader,[fn] David’s son, king in Yerushalem (Jerusalem):

1 The _words/messages _of Teacher the _son _of Dāvid king in_Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem).

1:2 Everything’s meaningless

2 “Totally pointless,” says the leader.

“A complete waste of time. Everything’s worthless.”

3 What profit does humanity gain from all their hard work in this world?

4 Generations come, and generations go,

but the world just carries on going.

5 The sun rises and the sun sets,

then rushes around to its place, rising there again.

6 Going to the south then around to the north,

the wind is going, changing, turning,

then it’s returning on its rounds.

7 All the rivers flow into the sea but it never gets full.

The place that the rivers are going to, they end up going there again.

8 Everything is wearisome—not even worth talking about.

The eyes never stop seeing,

and your ears never fill up with everything they hear.

9 Whatever that was in the past, it will be in the future,

and everything that’s happened before, will happen again.

There’s nothing new in this world.[fn].

10 If someone says, “Look at this—it’s new,”

well, it was already done long ago before we even got here.

11 Things that happened in the past get forgotten,

and the same will also happen for future events.

People in the future will be exactly the same.

2 Futility _of futilities Teacher he _said futility _of futilities (the)_everything is_futility.
3 What advantage belongs_to_humankind in_all toil _of_his which_he _toils under the_sun.
4 A _generation is_going and_a _generation is_coming and_the_earth forever is_continuing.
5 And_it _rises the_sun and_it _goes the_sun and_near/to place _of_its it_is_panting is_rising it there.
6 it_is_going to the_south and_it_is_circling to the_north circling _around circling _around is_going the_wind and_on its _of_circuits is_returning the_wind.
7 All _of the_rivers are_going to the_sea and_the_sea not_it is_full to the _place _of (of)_where_the_rivers are_going there they are_returning to_go.
8 All _of (the)_things are_wearisome not anyone he _is _able to_speak_them not an _eye it _is _satisfied to_see and_not an _ear it _is _filled from_hearing.
9 Whatever (that)_it_has _been it is_that_which _it _will _be and_whatever (that)_it_has _been _done it is_that_which _it _will _be _done and_there_is_not any _of new_thing under the_sun.
10 is_there anything which_anyone _will _say see this is_new it already it _has _been to_ancient _times which it _was from_before_us _of.
11 There_is_not remembrance _of things and_also of_things which_they _will _be not it _will _be to/for_them remembrance with those_who_they _will _be to_time.

1:12 The persecution of wise

12 I, the leader, was king over Yisrael in Yerushalem.

13 I used my mind and wisdom to discover and to explore everything that is done in this world.

It’s a difficult job that God has given humanity to be busy with.

14 I saw all the deeds that are done in this world,

and look—everything’s pointless like chasing after the wind.

15 Something that’s bent can’t be straightened again,

≈ and what’s missing can’t be counted.

16 I spoke with sincerity, saying, “Look at me—I’ve become powerful,

and I’ve increased in wisdom relative to everyone who ruled before me here in Yerushalem.[ref]

My mind has acquired much knowledge and wisdom.”

17 I made it my aim to discover knowledge and wisdom versus madness and folly.

I was aware that that also is chasing after the wind

18 because having much wisdom leads to much frustration

≈ and anyone who’s adding knowledge is also adding pain.

1:1 We don’t have enough information to fully understand the meaning of the Hebrew word ‘קֹהֶ֣לֶת’ (Kohelet), but it probably means something like ‘leader/speaker of the assembly’, so we use ‘the leader’ throughout this document.

1:9 ‘Under the sun’ isn’t a natural English idiom

1:16: 1Ki 4:29-31.

12 I Teacher I _was king over Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in_Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem).
13 And_I _gave DOM heart _of_my to_study and_to_discover by_wisdom on all that it _has _been _done under the_heavens it is_a _business evil which_he _has _given god to_the _children _of the_humankind to_be _busy in/on/over_him/it.
14 I _have _seen DOM all _of the_works which_they _have _been _done under the_sun and_see/lo/see (the)_everything is_futility and_striving _of wind.
15 that _which _is_bent not it _is _able to_become _straight and_something _missing not it _is _able to_be _numbered.
16 I _have _spoken I with heart _of_my to_say I here I _have _made _great and_I _have _increased wisdom above every one_who he _was to/for_my_face/front over Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) and_my _of_heart it _has _seen much wisdom and_knowledge.
17 And_I_gave heart _of_my to_know wisdom and_to _know madness(es) and_folly I _knew (cmp)_also this it is_a _striving _of wind.
18 If/because is_in_abundance _of wisdom abundance _of frustration and_someone _will _increase knowledge he _will _increase pain.

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ECC Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12