2 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.

“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”c

3 What does a person gain for all his efforts

that he labors at under the sun?d

4 A generation goes and a generation comes,

but the earth remains forever.e

5 The sun rises and the sun sets;

panting, it hurries back to the placef

where it rises.

6 Gusting to the south,

turning to the north,

turning, turning, goes the wind,g

and the wind returns in its cycles.

7 All the streams flow to the sea,

yet the sea is never full;

to the place where the streams flow,

there they flow again.

8 All thingsB are wearisome,

more than anyone can say.

The eye is not satisfied by seeingh

or the ear filled with hearing.

9 What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done;

there is nothing new under the sun.