10. Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been, in the vast ages of time [recorded or unrecorded] which were before us.
11. There is no remembrance of former happenings or men, neither will there be any remembrance of happenings of generations that are to come by those who are to come after them.
12. I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13. And I applied myself by heart and mind to seek and search out by [human] wisdom all human activity under heaven. It is a miserable business which God has given to the sons of man with which to busy themselves.
14. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a striving after the wind and a feeding on wind.