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Ecclesiastes 1

18 aligned verses; 16 with wording or punctuation differences .

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The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher ; vanity of vanities , all is vanity.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher , vanity of vanities ; all is vanity.

What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

One generation goeth , and another generation cometh ; but the earth abideth for ever.

One generation passeth away , and another generation cometh : but the earth abideth for ever.

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth .

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose .

The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course , and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

All the rivers run into the sea , yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go , thither they go again.

All the rivers run into the sea ; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come , thither they return again.

All things are full of weariness ; man cannot utter ` it ' : the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

All things are full of labour ; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

The thing that hath been , it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago , in the ages which were before us.

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time , which was before us.

There is no remembrance of the former `generations' ; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter `generations' that are to come , among those that shall come after.

There is no remembrance of former things ; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind .

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit .

That which is crooked cannot be made straight ; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

That which is crooked cannot be made straight : and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

I communed with mine own hear , saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem ; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

I communed with mine own heart , saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem : yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind .

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit .

For in much wisdom is much grief ; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

For in much wisdom is much grief : and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Scripture text: American Standard Version and King James Version. Public domain.; UK publication rights are administered by the Crown's patentee; public domain in most other jurisdictions..