Ecclesiastes 1:10–11

Is there anything of which one can say,

“Look! This is something new”?

It was here already, long ago;

it was here before our time.

No one remembers the former generations,

and even those yet to come

will not be remembered

by those who follow them.

Can one say about anything,

“Look, this is new”?

It has already existed in the ages before us.

There is no remembrance of those who came before;

and of those who will come after

there will also be no remembrance

by those who follow them.

Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.

There is a thing of which it is said, “Look at this! This is new!”

But it already existed in ages past before us.

There is neither remembrance of former generations,

nor will there be remembrance of future generations.

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.