1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Song of Songs 1
1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine;3 your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you.4 Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.5 I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions?8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds' tents.9 I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.10 Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.11 We will make for you ornaments of gold, studded with silver.12 While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance.13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh that lies between my breasts.14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi.15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful. Our couch is green;17 the beams of our house are cedar; our rafters are pine.
