10. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is chadash? L'olamim (ages ago), which were before us, it hath been already.
11. There is no zichron (remembrance) of former things; neither shall there be with those who come after any zikaron (recollection) of things that are to come.
12. I, Kohelet, was Melech over Yisroel in Yerushalayim.
13. And I set my lev to seek and search out by chochmah concerning all things that are done under Shomayim; what grievous task hath Elohim given to the bnei haAdam to be afflicted therewith.
14. I have seen all the ma'asim that are done under the shemesh; and, hinei, all is hevel and chasing after ruach (wind).
15. That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and chesron (that which is lacking) cannot be numbered.
16. I communed with mine own lev, saying, Hinei, I am come to greatness, even greater chochmah than all they that have been before me over Yerushalayim; yea, my lev had great experience of chochmah and da'as.
17. And I applied my lev to have da'as of chochmah, and to have da'as of holelot (madness) and sichlut (folly); I perceived that this also is striving after ruach (wind).