Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 verse 4 Holy Bible
One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.
read chapter 1 in ASV
One generation goes and another comes; but the earth is for ever.
read chapter 1 in BBE
[One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh, but the earth standeth for ever.
read chapter 1 in DARBY
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
read chapter 1 in KJV
read chapter 1 in WBT
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
read chapter 1 in WEB
A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing.
read chapter 1 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 4. - One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh. The translation rather weakens the force of the original, which is, a generation goeth, and a generation cometh. Man is only a pilgrim on earth; he soon passes away, and his place is occupied by others. Parallelisms of this sentiment will occur to every reader. Thus Ben-Sira, "All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death. As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall and some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born. Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal" (Ecclus. 14:17, etc.; comp. Job 10:21; Psalm 39:13). The famous passage in Homer, 'Iliad,' 6:146, etc., is thus rendered by Lord Derby - "The race of man is as the race of leaves:Of leaves, one generation by the windIs scattered on the earth; another soonIn spring's luxuriant verdure bursts to light.So with our race: these flourish, those decay." (Comp. ibid., 21:464, etc.; Horace, 'Ars Poet.,' 60.) But (and) the earth abideth forever. While the constant succession of generations of men goes on, the earth remains unchanged and immovable. If men were as permanent as is their dwelling-place, their labors might profit; but as things are, the painful contrast between the two makes itself felt. The term, "for ever," like the Greek εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, does not necessarily imply eternity, but often denotes limited or conditioned duration, as when the slave is engaged to serve his master "for ever" (Exodus 21:6), or the hills are called "everlasting" (Genesis 49:26). This verse gives one instance of growth and decay in contrast with insensate continuance. The following verses give further examples.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) Comp. Ecclesiasticus 14:19.
