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Ecclesiastes 1 :: New English Translation (NET)

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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.
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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.

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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.
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