Vanity of Vanities, All is Vanity

The author of this chapter and most of the Book is attributed to King Solomon, son of King David. The chapter opens with the multiple words "vanities" - which could be an expression of Absurdity, Frustration, Futility, Nonsense. It expresses the futility of man's labor in the grand scheme of the universe. It prompts the reader to think that none of the work we put so much effort on, has any worthwhile effects.  Nature goes on day by day, unaffected by our contribution from work. The phrase "nothing new under the sun" is well recognized even today, in context far removed from this book.

The second part of this chapter is somewhat more revealing of where these seemingly pessimistic words come from. Solomon reveals his own condition which helps us understand the negative views in the first part of this chapter. He reveals that he has asked God for wisdom and God had given him more wisdom and knowledge than any man. Without revealing much else, he concludes that the wisdom and knowledge has brought him grief and sorrow.

As we continue to read this book, we should see these writings as Solomon's view points, but not necessarily the right view that God intended us to have. As we read, we hope to learn what led Solomon to such a state and pray benefit from what God is revealing to us here.



Ecclesiastes 1
The Vanity of Life

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 “Vanity[a] of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

3 What profit has a man from all his labor
In which he toils under the sun?

4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes;
But the earth abides forever.

5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down,
And hastens to the place where it arose.

6 The wind goes toward the south,
And turns around to the north;
The wind whirls about continually,
And comes again on its circuit.

7 All the rivers run into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full;
To the place from which the rivers come,
There they return again.

8 All things are full of labor;
Man cannot express it.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 That 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 no 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 search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be 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 What 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 more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.