Possible scribal additions have been removed from the extracts presented here. Koheleth saw a fixed unchangeable order in the world, which man may feel compelled to study but whose meaning evades him. Ultimately, Koheleth seems to feel that human life is unsatisfying, that there is no moral justice in the destiny of men, or necessary sacredness or dignity in human life. But let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. 1 Emptiness, emptiness, says Koheleth, emptiness, all is empty.
Generations come and generations go, while the earth endures for ever.
The wind blows south, the wind blows north, round and round it goes and returns full circle. What has happened will happen again, and what has been done will be done again, and there is nothing new under the sun. No, it has already existed, long ago before our time. The men of old are not remembered, and those who follow will not be remembered by those who follow them. So I came to hate all my labor and toil here under the sun, since I should have to leave its fruits to my successor.