Ecclesiastes 1:12

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.

16 I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained ^amore wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has¹ understood great wisdom and knowledge.”

17 ^aAnd I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 1:12

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Ecclesiastes 1:13 >>

American Standard Version
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

Amplified® Bible
I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

Contemporary English Version
I said these things when I lived in Jerusalem as king of Israel.

Darby English Version
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

Good News Bible
I, the Philosopher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

King James Version
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

New American Standard Bible
I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

New International Version
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

New King James Version
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
I, the Preacher, have served as king over Israel in Jerusalem.

Revised Standard Version
I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

Young's Literal Translation
I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

New English Translation
I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.¹

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