傳道書 1
1 在耶路撒冷作王、大衛的兒子、傳道者的言語。
The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.
2 傳道者說：虛空的虛空， 虛空的虛空，凡事都是虛空。
Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.
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 remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?
4 一代過去，一代又來， 地卻永遠長存。
One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.
5 日頭出來，日頭落下， 急歸所出之地。
The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.
6 風往南颳，又向北轉， 不住地旋轉，而且返回轉行原道。
The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.
7 江河都往海裏流，海卻不滿； 江河從何處流，仍歸還何處。
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 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 labour: man cannot vtter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the eare 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。
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 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 any thing, whereof one may say, Beholde this, it is newe? it hath bene already in the olde time that was before vs.
11 已過的世代，無人記念； 將來的世代，後來的人也不記念。
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 我傳道者在耶路撒冷作過以色列的王。
I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:
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。
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 我見日光之下所做的一切事，都是虛空，都是捕風。
I haue considered all the workes that are done vnder the sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.
15 彎曲的，不能變直； 缺少的，不能足數。
That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.
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 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 我又專心察明智慧、狂妄，和愚昧，乃知這也是捕風。
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 因為多有智慧，就多有愁煩； 加增知識的，就加增憂傷。
For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.
