Ecclesiastes 1:9
7 All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place from which the streams come, there again they flow.
8 All things are wearisome, more than one can describe; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear content with hearing.
What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a case where one can say, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of those who came before, and those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow after.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
- KJV
- The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
- WEB
- That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.
- ASV
- That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
- DARBY
- That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which will be done: and there is nothing new under the sun.
- BLB
- What has been, it will be; and what has been done, it will be done; and nothing at all [is] new under the sun.
- ÅB
- Det som har vært, er det som skal bli, og det som har hendt, er det som skal hende, og det er intet nytt under solen.
- OTB
- Det som har vært, vil være igjen, og det som er gjort, vil bli gjort igjen; det er intet nytt under solen.
- B1930
- Det som har vært, er det som skal bli, og det som har hendt, er det som skal hende, og det er intet nytt under solen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ecclesiastes 3:15
What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 6:10
Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
Read in contextRevelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:12
Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?
Read in contextEcclesiastes 7:10
Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.
Read in contextIsaiah 43:19
Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
Read in contextJeremiah 31:22
How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land— a woman will shelter a man.”
Read in contextRevelation 21:5
And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”
Read in context