傳道書 1
1 在耶路撒冷作王、大衛的兒子、傳道者的言語。
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 傳道者說：虛空的虛空， 虛空的虛空，凡事都是虛空。
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
3 人一切的勞碌， 就是他在日光之下的勞碌，有甚麼益處呢？
What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun?
4 一代過去，一代又來， 地卻永遠長存。
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
5 日頭出來，日頭落下， 急歸所出之地。
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
6 風往南颳，又向北轉， 不住地旋轉，而且返回轉行原道。
The wind goes towards the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
7 江河都往海裏流，海卻不滿； 江河從何處流，仍歸還何處。
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
8 萬事令人厭煩， 人不能說盡。 眼看，看不飽； 耳聽，聽不足。
All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 已有的事後必再有； 已行的事後必再行。 日光之下並無新事。
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.
10 豈有一件事人能指着說這是新的？ 哪知，在我們以前的世代早已有了。
Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
11 已過的世代，無人記念； 將來的世代，後來的人也不記念。
There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, amongst those that shall come after.
12 我傳道者在耶路撒冷作過以色列的王。
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 我專心用智慧尋求、查究天下所做的一切事，乃知上帝叫世人所經練的是極重的勞苦。
I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
14 我見日光之下所做的一切事，都是虛空，都是捕風。
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
15 彎曲的，不能變直； 缺少的，不能足數。
That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
16 我心裏議論說：我得了大智慧，勝過我以前在耶路撒冷的眾人，而且我心中多經歷智慧和知識的事。
I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
17 我又專心察明智慧、狂妄，和愚昧，乃知這也是捕風。
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
18 因為多有智慧，就多有愁煩； 加增知識的，就加增憂傷。
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
