Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Haya ni maneno ya Mwalimu, mwana wa Daudi na mfalme katika Yerusalemu.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Mwalimu asema hivi, “Kama mvuke wa ukungu, kama upepo mwanana katika upepo, kila kitu hutoweka na kuacha maswali mengi.
3 What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun?
Ni faida gani wanadamu huipata kutoka katika kazi zote wazifanyazo chini ya jua?
4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides for ever.
Kizazi kimoja huenda, na kizazi kingine huja, lakini nchi yabaki milele.
5 The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastes to his place where he arose.
Jua huchomoza na jua huzama na kwenda kwa kasi, na kurudi mahali linapochomozea tena.
6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits.
Upepo huvuma kusini na huzunguka kasikazi, na mara zote ukizunguka katika njia yake na kurudi tena.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
Mito yote hutiririka katika bahari, lakini bahari haijai. Mahali mito inakoenda, ndiko inakoenda tena.
8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Kila kitu huwa uchovu, na hakuna yeyote awezae kukielezea. Jicho halishibina kile linachokiona, wala sikio halishibi na kile linachosikia.
9 The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Chochote kilichopo ndicho kitakachokuwepo, kila kilichofanyika ndicho kitakachofanyika. Hakuna jipya chini ya jua.
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it has been already of old time, which was before us.
Je kuna jambo lolote ambalo watu wanaweza kusema, 'Tazama, hili ni jipya'? Chochote kilichopo kimekwisha kuwepo muda mwingi, wakati uliokuwepo kabla yetu.
11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
Hakuna anayeonekana kukumbuka kilichotokea nyakati za zamani. Na mambo yaliyo tokea siku zilizo pita na yale yatakayo tokea siku za mbele nayo hayatakumbukwa.”
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Mimi ni mwalimu, na nimekuwa mfalme juu ya Isareli katika Yerusalemu.
13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail has God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
Nilitia akili yangu katika kusoma na kutafuta kwa hekima kila kitu kinachofanywa chini ya mbingu. Hili nalo ni jukumu zito ambalo Mungu amewapa wana wa watu kujishughulisha nalo.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Nimeona matendo yote ambayo yanafanyika chini ya jua, na tazama yote ni mvuke ni kujaribu kuuchunga upepo.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is lacking cannot be numbered.
Palipopinda hapawezi kunyoshwa! Kisicho kuwepo hakiwezi kuhesabiwa!
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have got more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
Nimeuambia moyo wangu nikisema, “Tazama, nimepata hekima kubwa kuliko walioishi Yerusalemu kabla yangu. Akili yangu imeona hekima kubwa na ufahamu.”
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
nimetia moyo wangu kujua hekima na upumbuvu na ujinga. Nikagundua kuwa hili nalo pia lilikuwa ni kujaribu kuuchunga upepo.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Kwa kuwa katika wingi wa hekima kuna masumbufu mengi, naye aongezae ujuzi, aongeza masikitiko.
