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Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 (NET)

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¹ The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: ² "Futile! Futile!" laments the Teacher, "Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!" ³ What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth? ⁴ A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains the same through the ages. ⁵ The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries away to a place from which it rises again. ⁶ The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round the wind goes and on its rounds it returns. ⁷ All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again. ⁸ All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing. ⁹ What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth. ¹⁰ Is there anything about which someone can say, "Look at this! It is new!"? It was already done long ago, before our time. ¹¹ No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations. ¹² I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied. ¹⁴ I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile like chasing the wind! ¹⁵ What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied. ¹⁶ I thought to myself, "I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge." ¹⁷ So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind! ¹⁸ For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

Topics with this scripture:
(v. 18) Word of God / Teaching / Knowledge - The more knowledge, the more grief
(v. 18) Wisdom / Understanding / Stupidity - With much wisdom comes much sorrow

Answers with scripture:
(v. 4) Will the earth be destroyed or not?
(v. 17) Is wisdom a source of grief and sorrow or enjoyment? With much wisdom comes much sorrow

Definition(s):
Israel (Iz-rehl): who prevails with God
Israel (Is-ra-el): who prevails with God
So (Soh):

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Referenced Resources in Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes (ec)

Author: King Soloman

Chapters: 12

Date Written: 970-931 B.C.

Location Written: ?

Summary: In a quest for happiness and the meaning of life, this writer, known as "the Philosopher," asks many questions that are still raised in today's society.

New English Translation (NET)

Year Created: 1999

Reading Level: 7th Grade

Translation Type: Thought For Thought

Summary: The NET Bible project was commissioned to create a faithful Bible translation that could be placed on the Internet, downloaded for free, and used around the world for ministry

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All links on pathseek point toward the scriptures. These verses are the standard for life because they are the very Word of God.