---
title: "Ecclesiastes 1 — World English Bible | Favorite Scriptures"
description: "Read Ecclesiastes 1 in the World English Bible. Free Bible reading, no account needed. Browse books and chapters, then save favorite passages in your personal library."
last_updated: "2026-10-08"
doc_version: "1"
language: "en"
canonical: "https://favoritescriptures.com/bible/ecclesiastes/1"
---

[Home](/)/[Bible](/bible)/[Ecclesiastes](/bible/ecclesiastes)/1

World English Bible

# Ecclesiastes 1

[1](#verse-1) The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

[2](#verse-2) “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

[3](#verse-3) What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

[4](#verse-4) One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

[5](#verse-5) The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.

[6](#verse-6) The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

[7](#verse-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.

[8](#verse-8) All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

[9](#verse-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.

[10](#verse-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](#verse-11) There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.

[12](#verse-12) I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

[13](#verse-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.

[14](#verse-14) I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

[15](#verse-15) That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

[16](#verse-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](#verse-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](#verse-18) For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

[← Proverbs 31](/bible/proverbs/31)[Ecclesiastes 2 →](/bible/ecclesiastes/2)

World English Bible · Public domain

## Keep what speaks to you.

Create a free library to save passages, highlight verses, and keep your study notes together.

[Start your free library](/login?mode=signup)

## Sitemap

See the [complete sitemap](/sitemap.md).