| Chapter text (World English Bible version) |  |
The Preacher tries to apply wisdom to life on earth. | |
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” | What conclusion does the Preacher give about everything? |
| 3 What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun? 4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. | What question does the Preacher ask about the benefit of all human labour? |
| 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6 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. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. | What examples from nature show the continuing cycles of life? |
| 8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 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. | What does the Preacher say about the endless repetition of things? |
| 10 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. 11 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. | Why is it hard to claim that something is truly new? |
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 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. * The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim). | What did the Preacher set his heart to investigate? |
| 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. | What did the Preacher observe about all the works done under the sun? |
| 16 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.” 17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. | What did the Preacher discover about wisdom, knowledge and understanding? |
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