Search Bible
Click for Help   Click for QuickNav   Click for Advanced Search Options
Search NET
Your Bible Version is the NET
Go to Top
Link to This Page Cite This Page
Share this page Follow the BLB
Printable Page
 
 
Left Context Bar Edge 1Left Context Bar BackgroundLeft Context Bar Edge 2Previous BookPrevious ChapterQuick NavNext ChapterNext BookCopy VersesCopy OptionsShow StrongsFormat by Verse or ParagraphListen to the BibleRed Letter OnRight Context Bar Edge 2Right Context Bar BackgroundRight Context Bar Edge 1
The Blue Letter Bible

Ecclesiastes 1 :: New English Translation (NET)

toggle collapse
Choose a new font size and typeface
Listen to the Bible
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:1 - The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:2 - "Futile! Futile!" laments the Teacher, "Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!"
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:3 - What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:4 - A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains the same through the ages.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:5 - The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries away to a place from which it rises again.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:6 - The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round the wind goes and on its rounds it returns.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:7 - All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:8 - All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:9 - What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:10 - Is there anything about which someone can say, "Look at this! It is new!"? It was already done long ago, before our time.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:11 - No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations.

The Futility of Wisdom

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:12 - I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:13 - I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:14 - I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile - like chasing the wind!
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:15 - What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:16 - I thought to myself, "I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge."
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:17 - So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 1:18 - For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.
NET

The NET Bible®, New English Translation Copyright © 1996 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NET Bible® is a registered trademark The NET Bible® Logo, Service Mark Copyright © 1997 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Full copyright information is provided here. Visit the NET Bible website.

Pericope

Pericope taken from the NASB95 and has been graciously provided by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.
All rights reserved.

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
Search NET
 [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
Search NET

Let's Connect
x
Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan


Donate Contact

Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding.

Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization