Ecclesiastes 1:11

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9 ^aThat which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there anything of which it may be said,
“See, this is new”?
It has already been in ancient times before us.

11 There is ^ano remembrance of former things,
Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come
By those who will come after.

The Grief of Wisdom

12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I set my heart to seek and ^asearch out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; ^bthis burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be¹ exercised.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

15 ^aWhat is crooked cannot be made straight,
And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

Commentaries:

John Wesley's Notes

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Ecclesiastes 1:11

No remembrance - This seems to be added to prevent the objection, There are many inventions and enjoyments unknown to former ages. To this he answers, This objection is grounded only upon our ignorance of ancient times which if we exactly knew or remembered, we should easily find parallels to all present occurrences. There are many thousands of remarkable speeches and actions done in this and the following ages which neither are, nor ever will be, put into the publick records or histories, and consequently must unavoidably be forgotten in succeeding ages; and therefore it is just and reasonable to believe the same concerning former ages.

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