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The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
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“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
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What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun?
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One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
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The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
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The wind goes towards the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
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All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
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All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
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That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.
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Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
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There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, amongst those that shall come after.
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I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
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I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
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I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
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That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
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I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
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I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
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For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.