Ecclesiastes 1
1 The wordes of the Preacher, the sonne of Dauid King in Ierusalem.
The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, the king of Jerusalem.
2 Vanitie of vanities, sayth the Preacher: vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.
Ecclesiastes said: Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity!
3 What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?
What more does a man have from all his labor, as he labors under the sun?
4 One generation passeth, and another generation succeedeth: but the earth remaineth for euer.
A generation passes away, and a generation arrives. But the earth stands forever.
5 The sunne riseth, and ye sunne goeth downe, and draweth to his place, where he riseth.
The sun rises and sets; it returns to its place, and from there, being born again,
6 The winde goeth toward the South, and compasseth towarde the North: the winde goeth rounde about, and returneth by his circuites.
it circles through the south, and arcs toward the north. The spirit continues on, illuminating everything in its circuit, and turning again in its cycle.
7 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.
All rivers enter into the sea, and the sea does not overflow. To the place from which the rivers go out, they return, so that they may flow again.
8 All things are full of labour: man cannot vtter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the eare filled with hearing.
Such things are difficult; man is not able to explain them with words. The eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor is the ear fulfilled by hearing.
9 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.
What is it that has existed? The same shall exist in the future. What is it that has been done? The same shall continue to be done.
10 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.
There is nothing new under the sun. Neither is anyone able to say: “Behold, this is new!” For it has already been brought forth in the ages that were before us.
11 There is no memorie of the former, neither shall there be a remembrance of the latter that shalbe, with them that shall come after.
There is no remembrance of the former things. Indeed, neither shall there be any record of past things in the future, for those who will exist at the very end.
12 I the Preacher haue bene King ouer Israel in Ierusalem:
I, Ecclesiastes, was king of Israel at Jerusalem.
13 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)
And I was determined in my mind to seek and to investigate wisely, concerning all that is done under the sun. God has given this very difficult task to the sons of men, so that they may be occupied by it.
14 I haue considered all the workes that are done vnder the sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.
I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
15 That which is crooked, can none make straight: and that which faileth, cannot be nombred.
The perverse are unwilling to be corrected, and the number of the foolish is boundless.
16 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.
I have spoken in my heart, saying: “Behold, I have achieved greatness, and I have surpassed all the wise who were before me in Jerusalem.” And my mind has contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
17 And I gaue mine heart to knowe wisdome and knowledge, madnes and foolishnes: I knew also that this is a vexation of the spirit.
And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit.
18 For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorowe.
Because of this, with much wisdom there is also much anger. And whoever adds knowledge, also adds hardship.
