1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”
3 What does a man gain for all his effortsthat he labors at under the sun?
4 A generation goes and a generation comes,but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises and the sun sets;panting, it returns to its place where it rises.
6 Gusting to the south,turning to the north,turning, turning, goes the wind, and the wind returns in its cycles.