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11 There is neither remembrance of former generations,
    nor will there be remembrance of future generations.

Qohelet Introduces His Quest

12 I, the Teacher,[a] was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens.[b] It is a grievous task God has given to humans.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 1:12 Hebrew “Qohelet”
  2. Ecclesiastes 1:13 MT reads “under the heavens,” which is supported by LXX; however, several versions (Syriac Peshitta, Aramaic Targum, Latin Vulgate) as well as the Cairo Geniza manuscript read, “under the sun,” cf. 1:3, 9, etc.
  3. Ecclesiastes 1:13 Literally “the sons of the man”

11 No one remembers the former generations,(A)
    and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
    by those who follow them.(B)

Wisdom Is Meaningless

12 I, the Teacher,(C) was king over Israel in Jerusalem.(D) 13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens.(E) What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!(F)

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