† 15 verses with comments from the Fathers · ⇄ 12 verses with cross-references . Tap a marked verse to open its catena.
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:† (1 connection)
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”†⇄ (24 connections) 3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?†⇄ (19 connections) 4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.†⇄ (13 connections) 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 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.†⇄ (6 connections) 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.†⇄ (5 connections) 8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.† (1 connection) 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.†⇄ (18 connections) 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.†⇄ (17 connections) 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 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.† (1 connection) 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.†⇄ (10 connections) 15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.†⇄ (5 connections) 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.”†⇄ (6 connections) 17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.†⇄ (7 connections) 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.†⇄ (9 connections)