传道书 1
1 在耶路撒冷作王、大卫的儿子、传道者的言语。
The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.
2 传道者说：虚空的虚空， 虚空的虚空，凡事都是虚空。
Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.
3 人一切的劳碌， 就是他在日光之下的劳碌，有什么益处呢？
What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?
4 一代过去，一代又来， 地却永远长存。
One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.
5 日头出来，日头落下， 急归所出之地。
The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.
6 风往南刮，又向北转， 不住地旋转，而且返回转行原道。
The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.
7 江河都往海里流，海却不满； 江河从何处流，仍归还何处。
All the riuers goe into the sea, yet the sea is not full: for the riuers goe vnto ye place, whence they returne, and goe.
8 万事令人厌烦， 人不能说尽。 眼看，看不饱； 耳听，听不足。
All things are full of labour: man cannot vtter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the eare filled with hearing.
9 已有的事后必再有； 已行的事后必再行。 日光之下并无新事。
What is it that hath bene? that that shalbe: and what is it that hath bene done? that which shalbe done: and there is no newe thing vnder the sunne.
10 岂有一件事人能指着说这是新的？ 哪知，在我们以前的世代早已有了。
Is there any thing, whereof one may say, Beholde this, it is newe? it hath bene already in the olde time that was before vs.
11 已过的世代，无人记念； 将来的世代，后来的人也不记念。
There is no memorie of the former, neither shall there be a remembrance of the latter that shalbe, with them that shall come after.
12 我传道者在耶路撒冷作过以色列的王。
I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:
13 我专心用智慧寻求、查究天下所做的一切事，乃知 神叫世人所经练的是极重的劳苦。
And I haue giuen mine heart to search and finde out wisdome by all things that are done vnder the heauen: (this sore trauaile hath GOD giuen to the sonnes of men, to humble them thereby)
14 我见日光之下所做的一切事，都是虚空，都是捕风。
I haue considered all the workes that are done vnder the sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.
15 弯曲的，不能变直； 缺少的，不能足数。
That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.
16 我心里议论说：我得了大智慧，胜过我以前在耶路撒冷的众人，而且我心中多经历智慧和知识的事。
I thought in mine heart, and said, Behold, I am become great, and excell in wisdome all them that haue bene before me in Ierusalem: and mine heart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge.
17 我又专心察明智慧、狂妄，和愚昧，乃知这也是捕风。
And I gaue mine heart to knowe wisdome and knowledge, madnes and foolishnes: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.
18 因为多有智慧，就多有愁烦； 加增知识的，就加增忧伤。
For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.
