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Everything is futile.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.2.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.3" /> <A name="4"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>What does a person gain for all his efforts</p><p class="poem">that he labors at under the sun?<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.3.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.4" /> <A name="5"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>A generation goes and a generation comes,</p><p class="poem">but the earth remains forever.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.4.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.5" /> <A name="6"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>The sun rises and the sun sets;</p><p class="poem">panting, it hurries back to the place<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.5.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">where it rises.</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.6" /> <A name="7"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Gusting to the south,</p><p class="poem">turning to the north,</p><p class="poem">turning, turning, goes the wind,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.6.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">and the wind returns in its cycles.</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.7" /> <A name="8"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>All the streams flow to the sea,</p><p class="poem">yet the sea is never full;</p><p class="poem">to the place where the streams flow,</p><p class="poem">there they flow again.</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.8" /> <A name="9"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>All things<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Ecclesiastes.1.8.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> are wearisome,</p><p class="poem">more than anyone can say.</p><p class="poem">The eye is not satisfied by seeing<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.8.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">or the ear filled with hearing.</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.9" /> <A name="10"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>What has been is what will be,</p><p class="poem">and what has been done is what will be done;</p><p class="poem">there is nothing new under the sun.</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.10" /> <A name="11"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Can one say about anything,</p><p class="poem">“Look, this is new”?</p><p class="poem">It has already existed in the ages before us.</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.11" /> <A name="12"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>There is no remembrance of those who<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Ecclesiastes.1.11.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> came before;<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.11.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">and of those who will come after</p><p class="poem">there will also be no remembrance</p><p class="poem">by those who follow them.</p></blockquote><h3 class="head1">The Limitations of Wisdom</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.12" /> <A name="13"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>I, the Teacher,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.12.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> have been<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Ecclesiastes.1.12.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> king over Israel in Jerusalem. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.13" /> <A name="14"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>I applied my mind to examine<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.13.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.13.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> God has given people<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Ecclesiastes.1.13.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> this miserable task to keep them occupied.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.13.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.14" /> <A name="15"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Ecclesiastes.1.14.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">a</span></a> <a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.14.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><blockquote class="poetryblock"><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.15" /> <A name="16"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>What is crooked cannot be straightened;<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.15.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">what is lacking cannot be counted.</p></blockquote><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.16" /> <A name="17"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.16.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> and my mind has thoroughly grasped<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Ecclesiastes.1.16.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> wisdom and knowledge.” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.17" /> <A name="18"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.17.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> madness and folly;<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.17.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.17.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a></p><blockquote class="poetryblock"><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Ecclesiastes.1.18" /> <span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>For with much wisdom is much sorrow;<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.18.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">as knowledge increases, grief increases.</p></blockquote><br /><section id="footnotes-Ecclesiastes.1" class="fnSection"><aside id="fn.Ecclesiastes.1.1.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.1">1:1</a></span> Or <span class="italic">of Qoheleth</span>, or <span class="italic">of the Leader of the Assembly</span></aside><aside id="fn.Ecclesiastes.1.8.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.8">1:8</a></span> Or <span class="italic">words</span></aside><aside id="fn.Ecclesiastes.1.11.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.11">1:11</a></span> Or <span class="italic">of the things that</span></aside><aside id="fn.Ecclesiastes.1.12.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.12">1:12</a></span> Or <span class="italic">Teacher, was</span></aside><aside id="fn.Ecclesiastes.1.13.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.13">1:13</a></span> Or <span class="italic">given the descendants of Adam</span></aside><aside id="fn.Ecclesiastes.1.14.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.14">1:14</a></span> Or <span class="italic">a feeding on wind</span>, or <span class="italic">an affliction of spirit</span> ; also in v. 17</aside><aside id="fn.Ecclesiastes.1.16.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.16">1:16</a></span> Or <span class="italic">discerned</span></aside><br /><section id="cross-references-Ecclesiastes.1" class="xrfSection"><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.1.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.1">1:1</a></span> Ec 1:12; 7:27; 12:8–10</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.1.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.1">1:1</a></span> 1Kg 2:12; Pr 1:1</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.2.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.2">1:2</a></span> Ps 39:5–6; 62:9; 144:4; Ec 12:8; Rm 8:20</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.3.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.3">1:3</a></span> Ec 2:11,22; 3:9; 5:16</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.4.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.4">1:4</a></span> Ps 104:5; 119:90; 1Jn 2:17</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.5.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.5">1:5</a></span> Ps 19:6</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.6.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.6">1:6</a></span> Ec 11:5; Jn 3:8</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.8.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.8">1:8</a></span> Pr 27:20; Ec 4:8</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.11.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.11">1:11</a></span> Dt 9:14; Ec 2:16; 9:5</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.12.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.12">1:12</a></span> Ec 1:1; 7:27; 12:8–10</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.13.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.13">1:13</a></span> Ec 1:17</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.13.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.13">1:13</a></span> 1Kg 4:29–34; Ec 3:10–11; 7:25; 8:17</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.13.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.13">1:13</a></span> Gn 3:19; Ec 2:23,26; 3:10; 4:8</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.14.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.14">1:14</a></span> Pr 27:16; Ec 2:11,17; 4:4; 6:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.15.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.15">1:15</a></span> Ec 7:13</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.16.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.16">1:16</a></span> 1Kg 3:12; 4:30; 10:23; Ec 2:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.17.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.17">1:17</a></span> Ec 1:13</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.17.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.17">1:17</a></span> Ec 2:12; 7:25</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.17.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.17">1:17</a></span> Ec 2:11,17; 4:4,6,16; 6:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Ecclesiastes.1.18.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Ecclesiastes.1.18">1:18</a></span> Ec 2:23; 12:12</aside><br /><section id="study-notes-Ecclesiastes.1" class="snSection"><br /></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Christian Standard Bible. 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