## Ecclesiastes Chapter 1

###### Ecclesiastes 1:1
[Ecclesiastes 1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:1)

דִּבְרֵי֙ קֹהֶ֣לֶת בֶּן־דָּוִ֔ד מֶ֖לֶךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The words of Koheles, the son of Dovid, king in Jerusalem.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The words of Qohelet, the son of David, king in Yerushalayim.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The words of [reproof of] Koheleth [(Solomon, who gathered [kihel] many wisdoms)], the son of David, who reigned in Jerusalem [(the city of wisdom)].


###### Ecclesiastes 1:2
[Ecclesiastes 1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:2)

הֲבֵ֤ל הֲבָלִים֙ אָמַ֣ר קֹהֶ֔לֶת הֲבֵ֥ל הֲבָלִ֖ים הַכֹּ֥ל הָֽבֶל׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Vanity of vanities, said Koheles; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Vanity of vanities, says Qohelet, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The vanity (1) of the vanities (2) [of the seven days of creation (Seven "vanities" are intimated in this verse)], said Koheleth — the vanity (1) of the vanities (2) [is that] all is vanity (1, all together 7).


###### Ecclesiastes 1:3
[Ecclesiastes 1:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:3)

מַה־יִּתְר֖וֹן לָֽאָדָ֑ם בְּכׇ֨ל־עֲמָל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
What profit does man have for all his labor which he labors beneath the sun.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
What profit has a man of all his labour wherein he labours under the sun?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
What profit is there to a man in all of the toil that he toils in exchange for the sun [(i.e., for the light of Torah)]?


###### Ecclesiastes 1:4
[Ecclesiastes 1:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:4)

דּ֤וֹר הֹלֵךְ֙ וְד֣וֹר בָּ֔א וְהָאָ֖רֶץ לְעוֹלָ֥ם עֹמָֽדֶת׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
A generation passes away and [another] generation comes, and the earth abides forever.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides for ever.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A generation goes and a generation comes [(and a succeeding generation will recover from the sons of the "toiler" whatever he exacted unscrupulously by his toil)], but [the humble one, who lowers himself to] the earth endures forever.


###### Ecclesiastes 1:5
[Ecclesiastes 1:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:5)

וְזָרַ֥ח הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ וּבָ֣א הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְאֶ֨ל־מְקוֹמ֔וֹ שׁוֹאֵ֛ף זוֹרֵ֥חַֽ ה֖וּא שָֽׁם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The sun rises and the sun sets, and to its place it strives, to rise there [again].

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to its place where it rises again.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
["A generation goes and a generation comes"] as the sun rises [in the morning] and the sun sets [in the evening], aspiring [to return] to its place whence it rose.


###### Ecclesiastes 1:6
[Ecclesiastes 1:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:6)

הוֹלֵךְ֙ אֶל־דָּר֔וֹם וְסוֹבֵ֖ב אֶל־צָפ֑וֹן סוֹבֵ֤ב׀סֹבֵב֙ הוֹלֵ֣ךְ הָר֔וּחַ וְעַל־סְבִיבֹתָ֖יו שָׁ֥ב הָרֽוּחַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
It [the wind] goes toward the south, and turns about toward the north; round and round goes the wind, and upon its circuits, the wind returns.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The wind goes towards the south, and veers to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
It goes to the south [(of the world in the daytime)] and turns to the north [(at night)]. Round and round [(the eastern and western sides)], the circuit goes, and [on the morrow], the circuit [of the previous day] is retraced. [(And thus with the wicked: Though their sun rises, it is destined to set, and the wicked are destined to return to the place of putridity whence they arose.)]


###### Ecclesiastes 1:7
[Ecclesiastes 1:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:7)

כׇּל־הַנְּחָלִים֙ הֹלְכִ֣ים אֶל־הַיָּ֔ם וְהַיָּ֖ם אֵינֶ֣נּוּ מָלֵ֑א אֶל־מְק֗וֹם שֶׁ֤הַנְּחָלִים֙ הֹֽלְכִ֔ים שָׁ֛ם הֵ֥ם שָׁבִ֖ים לָלָֽכֶת׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place where the rivers flow, there they continue to flow.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; to the place where the rivers flow, thither they return.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
All the rivers go to the sea, and the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers go, there [i.e., downwards] they return to go. [And thus with the wicked (viz. 6 above)]


###### Ecclesiastes 1:8
[Ecclesiastes 1:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:8)

כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים יְגֵעִ֔ים לֹא־יוּכַ֥ל אִ֖ישׁ לְדַבֵּ֑ר לֹא־תִשְׂבַּ֥ע עַ֙יִן֙ לִרְא֔וֹת וְלֹא־תִמָּלֵ֥א אֹ֖זֶן מִשְּׁמֹֽעַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
All things lead to weariness, man cannot speak of them; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[(a reversion to verse 3)] All words [of "toil"] are wearying; a man cannot speak [all of them]. The eye is not sated with seeing. The ear is not filled with hearing.


###### Ecclesiastes 1:9
[Ecclesiastes 1:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:9)

מַה־שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ ה֣וּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶ֔ה וּמַה־שֶּׁנַּֽעֲשָׂ֔ה ה֖וּא שֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין כׇּל־חָדָ֖שׁ תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
That which has been is what will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
That which has been, it is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is nothing new under the sun.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[Torah words bring new insights, whereas in the realm of what is exchanged for Torah] — that which was [(in the seven days of creation)], that is what shall be; and that which was done, that is what shall be done, and there is nothing new in exchange for the sun [(of Torah)].


###### Ecclesiastes 1:10
[Ecclesiastes 1:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:10)

יֵ֥שׁ דָּבָ֛ר שֶׁיֹּאמַ֥ר רְאֵה־זֶ֖ה חָדָ֣שׁ ה֑וּא כְּבָר֙ הָיָ֣ה לְעֹֽלָמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה מִלְּפָנֵֽנוּ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Sometimes there is a thing of which one will exclaim: “See this is new!”; it has already been in existence in the ages which preceded us.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new; but it has already been in the ages before us.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
There is a thing [(in the world)] of which one might say: See, this is new. But, [the truth is that] it had already been of yore, in what had come before us.


###### Ecclesiastes 1:11
[Ecclesiastes 1:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:11)

אֵ֥ין זִכְר֖וֹן לָרִאשֹׁנִ֑ים וְגַ֨ם לָאַחֲרֹנִ֜ים שֶׁיִּהְי֗וּ לֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֤ה לָהֶם֙ זִכָּר֔וֹן עִ֥ם שֶׁיִּהְי֖וּ לָאַחֲרֹנָֽה׃{פ}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
There is no remembrance of earlier generations; also of the later generations that are to come, there will be no remembrance of them among those who will come after.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
There is no remembrance of former things; nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come among those who shall come after.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For there is no remembrance of the first ones, [i.e., the earlier generations, for which reason the thing seems to be new]; and the later ones, too, who will be [after us], will not be remembered by those who come after them.


###### Ecclesiastes 1:12
[Ecclesiastes 1:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:12)

אֲנִ֣י קֹהֶ֗לֶת הָיִ֥יתִי מֶ֛לֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I, Koheles, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I Qohelet was king over Yisra᾽el in Yerushalayim.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I, Koheleth, was king [(over all the world, and then, only] over Israel, [and then, only] in Jerusalem.


###### Ecclesiastes 1:13
[Ecclesiastes 1:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:13)

וְנָתַ֣תִּי אֶת־לִבִּ֗י לִדְר֤וֹשׁ וְלָתוּר֙ בַּֽחׇכְמָ֔ה עַ֛ל כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם ה֣וּא**׀** עִנְיַ֣ן רָ֗ע נָתַ֧ן אֱלֹהִ֛ים לִבְנֵ֥י הָאָדָ֖ם לַעֲנ֥וֹת בּֽוֹ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And I applied my heart to search and explore with wisdom, concerning all that happens beneath the heavens; it is an evil thing that God has given to mankind to be afflicted with.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under the heaven: it is a sore task that God has given to the sons of man to be exercised with.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I set my heart to seek out and ponder with wisdom [i.e., Torah] everything [evil] that is done under the sun, [and I understood that it is a function of] the [freedom for] evil conduct placed by G-d before the sons of men to conduct themselves by [viz. Deuteronomy 13:15].


###### Ecclesiastes 1:14
[Ecclesiastes 1:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:14)

רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַֽמַּעֲשִׂ֔ים שֶֽׁנַּעֲשׂ֖וּ תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכֹּ֛ל הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I have seen all the deeds that were done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I saw all the deeds done under the sun, and, behold, they are all vanity and breaking of spirit.


###### Ecclesiastes 1:15
[Ecclesiastes 1:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:15)

מְעֻוָּ֖ת לֹא־יוּכַ֣ל לִתְקֹ֑ן וְחֶסְר֖וֹן לֹא־יוּכַ֥ל לְהִמָּנֽוֹת׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
That which is crooked, cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting, cannot be counted.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The crooked [deed] cannot be corrected [after one's death], and the [one who is] lacking [(from the number of the righteous)] cannot be counted [(with them for the receiving of reward)].


###### Ecclesiastes 1:16
[Ecclesiastes 1:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:16)

דִּבַּ֨רְתִּי אֲנִ֤י עִם־לִבִּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲנִ֗י הִנֵּ֨ה הִגְדַּ֤לְתִּי וְהוֹסַ֙פְתִּי֙ חׇכְמָ֔ה עַ֛ל כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖י עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְלִבִּ֛י רָאָ֥ה הַרְבֵּ֖ה חׇכְמָ֥ה וָדָֽעַת׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
I said to myself: “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom over all who were before me in Jerusalem; and my heart has perceived much wisdom and knowledge.”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I spoke to my own heart, saying, See, I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all those who were before me in Yerushalayim: for my heart has seen much of wisdom and knowledge.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[Now, that I have fallen from my greatness,] I commune in my heart: [Who would have thought that I would come to this pass,] I, who had amassed and increased wisdom over all who were before me in Jerusalem, and whose heart had seen [so] much wisdom and knowledge!


###### Ecclesiastes 1:17
[Ecclesiastes 1:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:17)

וָאֶתְּנָ֤ה לִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת חׇכְמָ֔ה וְדַ֥עַת הוֹלֵלֹ֖ת וְשִׂכְל֑וּת יָדַ֕עְתִּי שֶׁגַּם־זֶ֥ה ה֖וּא רַעְי֥וֹן רֽוּחַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; I understand that this, too, was vexation of the spirit.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And I set my heart on knowing [the nature of] wisdom [i.e., its end] and [the nature of] distraction and folly, and I found that this [i.e., wisdom], too, is breaking of spirit.


###### Ecclesiastes 1:18
[Ecclesiastes 1:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/1:18)

כִּ֛י בְּרֹ֥ב חׇכְמָ֖ה רׇב־כָּ֑עַס וְיוֹסִ֥יף דַּ֖עַת יוֹסִ֥יף מַכְאֽוֹב׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For with much wisdom, there is much vexation; and he who increases knowledge increases pain.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For in much wisdom [i.e., when one relies too much on his own wisdom, he is bound to sin and to cause] much anger [to the L-rd], and the increaser of knowledge increases sorrow.