Ecclesiastes 1 - Compare Translations
3 translations side by side. Tap any verse number to hear it read aloud.
3 translations
Ecclesiastes 1:1
KJVThe words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
WEBThe words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
YLTWords of a preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
Ecclesiastes 1:2
KJVVanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
WEB“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
YLTVanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole [is] vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:3
KJVWhat profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
WEBWhat does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
YLTWhat advantage [is] to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 1:4
KJVOne generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
WEBOne generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
YLTA generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing.
Ecclesiastes 1:5
KJVThe sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
WEBThe sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
YLTAlso, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there.
Ecclesiastes 1:6
KJVThe wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
WEBThe 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.
YLTGoing unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned.
Ecclesiastes 1:7
KJVAll the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
WEBAll the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
YLTAll the streams are going unto the sea, and the sea is not full; unto a place whither the streams are going, thither they are turning back to go.
Ecclesiastes 1:8
KJVAll things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
WEBAll things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
YLTAll these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor filled is the ear from hearing.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
KJVThe 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.
WEBThat 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.
YLTWhat [is] that which hath been? it [is] that which is, and what [is] that which hath been done? it [is] that which is done, and there is not an entirely new thing under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:10
KJV
WEB
YLT
Ecclesiastes 1:11
KJVThere is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
WEBThere 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.
YLTThere is not a remembrance of former [generations]; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.
Ecclesiastes 1:12
KJVI the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
WEBI, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
YLTI, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:13
KJVAnd 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.
WEBI 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.
YLTAnd I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It [is] a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.
Ecclesiastes 1:14
KJVI have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
WEBI have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
YLTI have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit!
Ecclesiastes 1:15
KJVThat which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
WEBThat which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
YLTA crooked thing [one] is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.
Ecclesiastes 1:16
KJVI 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.
WEBI 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.”
YLTI -- I spake with my heart, saying, `I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 1:17
KJVAnd I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
WEBI applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
YLTAnd I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] vexation of spirit;
Ecclesiastes 1:18
KJVFor in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
WEBFor in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
YLTfor, in abundance of wisdom [is] abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.'
18 verses compared across 3 translations - KJV, WEB, YLT