Ecclesiastes 1

¹These are the words of the Teacherקֹהֶ֣לֶתqō·he·leṯ — Preacher; one who gathers or convenes an assemblyH6953 — Full Word Study →, the sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Davidדָּוִ֔דdā·wiḏ — BelovedH1732 — Full Word Study →, kingמֶ֖לֶךְme·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bî·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →: ²“Futilityהֲבֵ֤לhă·ḇêl — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study → of futilitiesהֲבָלִים֙hă·ḇā·lîm — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study →,” saysאָמַ֣ר’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → the Teacherקֹהֶ֔לֶתqō·he·leṯ — Preacher; one who gathers or convenes an assemblyH6953 — Full Word Study →, “futilityהֲבֵ֥לhă·ḇêl — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study → of futilitiesהֲבָלִ֖יםhă·ḇā·lîm — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study →! Everythingהַכֹּ֥לhak·kōl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → is futileהָֽבֶל׃hā·ḇel — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study →!” ³Whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → does a manלָֽאָדָ֑םlā·’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study → gainיִּתְר֖וֹןyiṯ·rō·wn — advantage, profit, superiority, what remainsH3504 — Full Word Study → from allבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → his laborעֲמָל֔וֹ‘ă·mā·lōw — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study →, at which he toilsשֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖לše·ya·‘ă·mōl — to toil, labor, exert effortH5998 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֥חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃haš·šā·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study →? ⁴Generationsדּ֤וֹרdō·wr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → comeהֹלֵךְ֙hō·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → and generationsוְד֣וֹרwə·ḏō·wr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → goבָּ֔אbā — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study →, but the earthוְהָאָ֖רֶץwə·hā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → remainsעֹמָֽדֶת׃‘ō·mā·ḏeṯ — to stand, take a stand, be establishedH5975 — Full Word Study → foreverלְעוֹלָ֥םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →. ⁵The sunהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁhaš·še·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study → risesוְזָרַ֥חwə·zā·raḥ — to rise, shine forth, break outH2224 — Full Word Study → and the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁhaš·šā·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study → setsוּבָ֣אū·ḇā — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study →; it hurries backשׁוֹאֵ֛ףšō·w·’êp̄ — to pant eagerly; to desire intensely; to devourH7602 — Full Word Study → toמְקוֹמ֔וֹmə·qō·w·mōw — A place, location, or spaceH4725 — Full Word Study → whereשָֽׁם׃šām — There, in that placeH8033 — Full Word Study → itה֖וּאhū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → risesזוֹרֵ֥חַֽzō·w·rê·aḥ — to rise, shine forth, break outH2224 — Full Word Study →. ⁶The windהָר֔וּחַhā·rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study → blowsהוֹלֵךְ֙hō·w·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → southwardדָּר֔וֹםdā·rō·wm — South; the southern direction or regionH1864 — Full Word Study →, then turnsוְסוֹבֵ֖בwə·sō·w·ḇêḇ — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study → northwardצָפ֑וֹןṣā·p̄ō·wn — North; northern direction or regionH6828 — Full Word Study →; roundסוֹבֵ֤ב׀sō·w·ḇêḇ — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study → and round it swirlsהוֹלֵ֣ךְhō·w·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study →, ever returningשָׁ֥בšāḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → onוְעַל־wə·‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → its courseסְבִיבֹתָ֖יוsə·ḇî·ḇō·ṯāw — around, on all sides, encirclingH5439 — Full Word Study →. ⁷Allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the riversהַנְּחָלִים֙han·nə·ḥā·lîm — A stream or winter torrent; a narrow valleyH5158 — Full Word Study → flowהֹלְכִ֣יםhō·lə·ḵîm — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → intoאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the seaהַיָּ֔םhay·yām — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →, yet the seaוְהַיָּ֖םwə·hay·yām — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study → is neverאֵינֶ֣נּוּ’ê·nen·nū — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → fullמָלֵ֑אmā·lê — to fill, be full, fullnessH4392 — Full Word Study →; toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the placeמְק֗וֹםmə·qō·wm — A place, location, or spaceH4725 — Full Word Study → from which the streamsשֶׁ֤הַנְּחָלִים֙še·han·nə·ḥā·lîm — A stream or winter torrent; a narrow valleyH5158 — Full Word Study → comeהֹֽלְכִ֔יםhō·lə·ḵîm — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study →, thereשָׁ֛םšām — There, in that placeH8033 — Full Word Study → againשָׁבִ֖יםšā·ḇîm — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → theyהֵ֥םhêm — They, them (masculine plural pronoun)H1992 — Full Word Study → flowלָלָֽכֶת׃lā·lā·ḵeṯ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study →. ⁸Allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםhad·də·ḇā·rîm — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → are wearisomeיְגֵעִ֔יםyə·ḡê·‘îm — to be weary, exhausted, or fatiguedH3023 — Full Word Study →, moreלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → than oneאִ֖ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → can describeלְדַבֵּ֑רlə·ḏab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study →; the eyeעַ֙יִן֙‘a·yin — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → is notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → satisfiedתִשְׂבַּ֥עṯiś·ba‘ — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study → with seeingלִרְא֔וֹתlir·’ō·wṯ — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study →, norוְלֹא־wə·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → the earאֹ֖זֶן’ō·zen — Ear; the organ of hearing and listeningH241 — Full Word Study → contentתִמָּלֵ֥אṯim·mā·lê — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study → with hearingמִשְּׁמֹֽעַ׃miš·šə·mō·a‘ — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study →. ⁹Whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → has beenשֶּֽׁהָיָה֙še·hā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → will be againשֶׁיִּהְיֶ֔הše·yih·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study →, and whatוּמַה־ū·mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → has been doneשֶׁנַּֽעֲשָׂ֔הšen·na·‘ă·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → will be done againשֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂ֑הše·yê·‘ā·śeh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study →; there is nothingוְאֵ֥יןwə·’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → newחָדָ֖שׁḥā·ḏāš — new, fresh, recentH2319 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֥חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃haš·šā·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study →. ¹⁰Is there a case where one can sayשֶׁיֹּאמַ֥רše·yō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Lookרְאֵה־rə·’êh- — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study →, thisזֶ֖הzeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → is newחָדָ֣שׁḥā·ḏāš — new, fresh, recentH2319 — Full Word Study →”? Itה֑וּאhū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → has alreadyכְּבָר֙kə·ḇār — Already, now, by this timeH3528 — Full Word Study → existedהָיָ֣הhā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → in the agesלְעֹֽלָמִ֔יםlə·‘ō·lā·mîm — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study → before usמִלְּפָנֵֽנוּ׃mil·lə·p̄ā·nê·nū — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →. ¹¹There is noאֵ֥ין’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → remembranceזִכְר֖וֹןziḵ·rō·wn — Memorial, remembrance, record of significanceH2146 — Full Word Study → of those who came beforeלָרִאשֹׁנִ֑יםlā·ri·šō·nîm — First, foremost, or former; earliest in time or orderH7223 — Full Word Study →, and those yet to comeלָאַחֲרֹנִ֜יםlā·’a·ḥă·rō·nîm — Last, final, or later in time or orderH314 — Full Word Study → will not beשֶׁיִּהְי֗וּše·yih·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → rememberedזִכָּר֔וֹןzik·kā·rō·wn — Memorial, remembrance, record of significanceH2146 — Full Word Study → byעִ֥ם‘im — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → those whoשֶׁיִּהְי֖וּše·yih·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → followיִהְיֶ֤הyih·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → afterלָאַחֲרֹנָֽה׃פlā·’a·ḥă·rō·nāh — Last, final, or later in time or orderH314 — Full Word Study →. ¹²Iאֲנִ֣י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study →, the Teacherקֹהֶ֗לֶתqō·he·leṯ — Preacher; one who gathers or convenes an assemblyH6953 — Full Word Study →, wasהָיִ֥יתִיhā·yî·ṯî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → kingמֶ֛לֶךְme·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → overעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bî·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →. ¹³And I setוְנָתַ֣תִּיwə·nā·ṯat·tî — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → my mindלִבִּ֗יlib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → to seekלִדְר֤וֹשׁliḏ·rō·wōš — to seek, inquire, search diligentlyH1875 — Full Word Study → and exploreוְלָתוּר֙wə·lā·ṯūr — to spy out, scout, search, exploreH8446 — Full Word Study → by wisdomבַּֽחָכְמָ֔הba·ḥā·ḵə·māh — Wisdom; skillful understanding and discernmentH2451 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → is doneנַעֲשָׂ֖הna·‘ă·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֣חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → heavenהַשָּׁמָ֑יִםhaš·šā·mā·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study →. Whatה֣וּא׀hū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → a heavy burden Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → has laidנָתַ֧ןnā·ṯan — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → upon the sonsלִבְנֵ֥יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of menהָאָדָ֖םhā·’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study → to occupy themלַעֲנ֥וֹתla·‘ă·nō·wṯ — To afflict, humble, or oppress; to treat harshlyH6031 — Full Word Study →! ¹⁴I have seenרָאִ֙יתִי֙rā·’î·ṯî — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the thingsהַֽמַּעֲשִׂ֔יםham·ma·‘ă·śîm — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → that are doneשֶֽׁנַּעֲשׂ֖וּšen·na·‘ă·śū — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֣חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁhaš·šā·meš — The sun; sunlight; dayH8121 — Full Word Study →, and have found themוְהִנֵּ֥הwə·hin·nêh — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study → allהַכֹּ֛לhak·kōl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → to be futileהֶ֖בֶלhe·ḇel — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study →, a pursuitוּרְע֥וּתū·rə·‘ūṯ — longing, desire, cravingH7469 — Full Word Study → of the windרֽוּחַ׃rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →. ¹⁵What is crookedמְעֻוָּ֖תmə·‘uw·wāṯ — To twist, bend, or pervert from the correct pathH5791 — Full Word Study → cannotלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → be straightenedלִתְקֹ֑ןliṯ·qōn — to set in order, make straight, establishH8626 — Full Word Study →, and what is lackingוְחֶסְר֖וֹןwə·ḥes·rō·wn — Deficiency, lack, shortageH2642 — Full Word Study → cannotלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → be countedלְהִמָּנֽוֹת׃lə·him·mā·nō·wṯ — To count, number, appoint, or ordainH4487 — Full Word Study →. ¹⁶Iאֲנִ֤י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → saidדִּבַּ֨רְתִּיdib·bar·tî — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → toעִם־‘im- — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → myselfלִבִּי֙lib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →, “Beholdהִנֵּ֨הhin·nêh — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study →, Iאֲנִ֗י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → have grownהִגְדַּ֤לְתִּיhiḡ·dal·tî — to grow, become great, magnifyH1431 — Full Word Study → and increasedוְהוֹסַ֙פְתִּי֙wə·hō·w·sap̄·tî — to add, increase, or do againH3254 — Full Word Study → in wisdomחָכְמָ֔הḥāḵ·māh — Wisdom; skillful understanding and discernmentH2451 — Full Word Study → beyondעַ֛ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → thoseאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → before meלְפָנַ֖יlə·p̄ā·nay — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → who wereהָיָ֥הhā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → overעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םyə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →, and my mindוְלִבִּ֛יwə·lib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → has observedרָאָ֥הrā·’āh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → a wealthהַרְבֵּ֖הhar·bêh — To increase, multiply, grow abundantH7235 — Full Word Study → of wisdomחָכְמָ֥הḥāḵ·māh — Wisdom; skillful understanding and discernmentH2451 — Full Word Study → and knowledgeוָדָֽעַת׃wā·ḏā·‘aṯ — Knowledge, understanding, awarenessH1847 — Full Word Study →.” ¹⁷So I setוָאֶתְּנָ֤הwā·’et·tə·nāh — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → my mindלִבִּי֙lib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → to knowלָדַ֣עַתlā·ḏa·‘aṯ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → wisdomחָכְמָ֔הḥāḵ·māh — Wisdom; skillful understanding and discernmentH2451 — Full Word Study → and madnessהוֹלֵל֖וֹתhō·w·lê·lō·wṯ — Madness, folly, senselessnessH1947 — Full Word Study → and follyוְשִׂכְל֑וּתwə·śiḵ·lūṯ — Foolishness, senselessness, lack of wisdomH5531 — Full Word Study →; I learnedיָדַ֕עְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tî — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → thatזֶ֥הzeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → thisה֖וּאhū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study →, tooשֶׁגַּם־šeg·gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study →, is a pursuitרַעְי֥וֹןra‘·yō·wn — Striving, vexation, agitation of mindH7475 — Full Word Study → of the windרֽוּחַ׃rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →. ¹⁸Forכִּ֛יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → with muchבְּרֹ֥בbə·rōḇ — Abundance, multitude, or great quantityH7230 — Full Word Study → wisdomחָכְמָ֖הḥāḵ·māh — Wisdom; skillful understanding and discernmentH2451 — Full Word Study → comes muchרָב־rāḇ- — great, many, abundant, mightyH7227 — Full Word Study → sorrowכָּ֑עַסkā·‘as — Vexation, provocation, or irritation that stirs angerH3708 — Full Word Study →, and as knowledgeדַּ֖עַתda·‘aṯ — Knowledge, understanding, awarenessH1847 — Full Word Study → growsוְיוֹסִ֥יףwə·yō·w·sîp̄ — to add, increase, or do againH3254 — Full Word Study →, griefמַכְאֽוֹב׃maḵ·’ō·wḇ — Physical or emotional pain; anguishH4341 — Full Word Study → increasesיוֹסִ֥יףyō·w·sîp̄ — to add, increase, or do againH3254 — Full Word Study →.