The Preacher Searches to Find if There is Anything New |
Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 The Book of Ecclesiastes [in Smaller Chunks] |
[These are] the words of the Preacher, [David's] son, [Jerusalem's] king. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. Vanity of vanities: all is vanity. [Psalm 39:5-8 [See,] You have made my days [like] the [width of a hand] & [my] age is nothing before You. |
[Truly,] every man walks at his best state [in life, which] is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely, every man walks in a vain [resemblance of life.] Surely, they are [worried] in vain & he heaps up riches & [doesn't] know who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what [do] I wait for? My hope is in You.] |
What [benefit does] a man have of all his labor, which he [engages in] under the sun? One generation passes away & another generation comes: but the earth abides forever. [Psalm 119:89-91 O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven forever. Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth & it abides. They continue this day, according to Your [rules:] for all are Your servants.] |
Also, the sun arises & the sun goes down & [hurries] to [its] place where [it] arose. The wind goes toward the south & turns [around] to the north. It [whirls around] continually & the wind returns again according to [its cycles.] |
All rivers run into the sea; yet the sea isn't full. The rivers return again to the place from [where] they [came.] All things are full of labor & man can't [comprehend] it. The eye isn't satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. |
[Matthew 13:15-17 For this people's heart [has grown coarse] & their ears are [hard] of hearing & they have closed their eyes; lest at any time they should see with their eyes & hear with their ears & should understand with their heart & should be converted & I should heal them. |
But blessed are your eyes, for they see & your ears, for they hear. For [truly,] I say to you, That many prophets & righteous men have desired to see those things, [that] you see & haven't seen them & to hear those things, which you hear & haven't heard them.] |
The [things] that have been, [are what] shall be. And that which is done, is [what] shall be done. And there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything [of which] it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been, [in ancient times,] which was before us. |
There is no [memory] of [previous] things. Neither is there any [memory] of things that are to come, with those, that shall come [afterward.] I, the Preacher, was king over Jerusalem, in Israel. |
And I [focused] my heart to seek & search out [using] wisdom, [about] all things that are done under heaven. This [troubling research,] God has given to the sons of [men,] to be [engaged with it.] I have seen all the works that are done under the sun & [saw that,] all is vanity & [like trying to grab the wind.] |
[What] is crooked, can't be made straight. And [what is lacking] can't be [counted.] I [contemplated within my] own heart, [Look,] I [have] come to great [status] & have gotten more wisdom than all [those who] have been before me in Jerusalem. [Yes,] my heart had [experienced] great wisdom & knowledge. |
And I [have focused] my heart to [become familiar with] [the differences between:] wisdom, [insanity & foolishness.] I [realized] this is also [like trying to grab the wind.] For in much wisdom, is much grief. And he, [who] increases knowledge, [also] increases sorrow. |