📖 Ecclesiastes — Chapter 1 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Ecclesiastes 1:1 The words of Rthe Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; Rall is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:3 What Rprofit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 1:4 ROne generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
Ecclesiastes 1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and RThasteth to his place where he arose.
Ecclesiastes 1:6 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.
Ecclesiastes 1:7 All Rthe rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they Treturn again.
Ecclesiastes 1:8 All things are Rfull of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing Rthat 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.
Ecclesiastes 1:10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? Rit hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Ecclesiastes 1:11 RThere is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
Ecclesiastes 1:12 I the Preacher was Rking over Israel in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:13 And RI 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 Tto be exercised therewith.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 1:15 That which is Rcrooked cannot be made straight: and Tthat which is wanting cannot be numbered.
Ecclesiastes 1:16 I Rcommuned 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 Thad great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 And RI gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 1:18 RFor in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 1:1–6 — The question of lasting gain
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Preacher asks what labor under the sun finally gains. Passing generations and recurring sun and wind challenge confidence in permanent earthly achievement.
Key Truth: Recognize the limits of earthly gain.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “The ____ of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” (Ecclesiastes 1:1)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 1:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “One ____ passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth …” (Ecclesiastes 1:4)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 1:4 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “The ____ goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; …” (Ecclesiastes 1:6)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 1:6 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 1:7–12 — Repetition and fading remembrance
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Rivers, restless seeing and hearing, familiar patterns, and forgotten generations deepen the inquiry. Novel appearances do not remove life’s recurring frustrations.
Key Truth: Do not expect novelty to satisfy completely.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “All the ____ run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; …” (Ecclesiastes 1:7)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 1:7 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Is there any ____ whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it …” (Ecclesiastes 1:10)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 1:10 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “I the ____ was king over Israel in Jerusalem.” (Ecclesiastes 1:12)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 1:12 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 1:13–18 — The limits of searching wisdom
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Preacher searches human activity through wisdom but discovers crookedness he cannot straighten. Increased knowledge also makes grief more visible.
Key Truth: Receive wisdom with awareness of limits.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “And I gave my ____ to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I …” (Ecclesiastes 1:17)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 1:17 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “For in much ____ is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” (Ecclesiastes 1:18)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 1:18 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and ____ .” (Ecclesiastes 1:16)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 1:16 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
James 4:14 — Human life is brief and uncertain.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What achievement have you expected to give lasting satisfaction?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How do the eye and ear illustrate the chapter’s concern?
2. What limitation affects lasting recognition of human achievement?
3. How does the Preacher describe his investigation?
4. What does the crooked-and-wanting saying expose?
5. What difficult consequence accompanies increased knowledge here?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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