Eklezyas 1
1 Pawòl predikatè a, fis a David la, Wa Jérusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 “Vanite sou vanite”, predikatè la di: “Vanite sou vanite! Tout se vanite.”
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
3 Ki avantaj yon nonm gen nan tout travay ke li fè anba solèy la?
What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun?
4 Yon jenerasyon ale e yon jenerasyon vini; men tè a rete pou tout tan.
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
5 Anplis, solèy la leve e solèy la kouche; konsa li kouri al jwenn plas li pou li leve la ankò.
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
6 Van an soufle vè sid, vire kote nò e kontinye vire fè wonn li. Sou menm kous vire won an, li retounen ankò.
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 Tout rivyè yo desann vè lanmè a; sepandan li pa vin plen. Nan plas kote rivyè yo koule a, se la yo koule ankò.
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 Tout bagay sa yo fatigan; lòm pa kapab menm eksplike sa. Zye pa satisfè ak wè, ni zòrèy ak tande.
All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 Sa ki te ye, se sa ki va ye e sa ki te konn fèt, se sa k ap fèt. Konsa, nanpwen anyen ki nèf anba syèl la.
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 Èske gen yon bagay sou sila a nou ta kab di: “Men sa a nèf”? Deja, li te la depi syèk ki te ekoule avan nou yo.
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 Nanpwen memwa a ansyen bagay yo, ni anplis a sila k ap vini pita, pami sila ki vini apre yo.
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 Mwen menm, predikatè a, te sèvi kon wa sou Israël nan Jérusalem.
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 Mwen te konsantre tout refleksyon mwen pou chache e egzamine sou sajès tout sa ki te konn fèt anba syèl la. Sa se yon gwo tach lou ke Bondye te bay fis a lòm yo pou l ta aflije yo.
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 Mwen te wè tout zèv ki te fèt anba solèy la e, men vwala, tout se vanite e chache kouri dèyè van.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
15 Sa ki kwochi p ap ka drese e sa ki manke p ap ka konte.
That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
16 Mwen te di a pwòp tèt mwen: “Men gade, mwen te fè sajès vin grandi e ogmante plis pase tout lòt wa ki te sou Jérusalem avan mwen yo. Wi, panse mwen te obsève anpil richès ak sajès avèk konesans.”
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 Mwen te dirije panse mwen pou konnen sajès e pou konnen sa ki ensanse ak sa ki foli nèt. Konsa, mwen te vin wè ke sa osi se chache kouri dèyè van.
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
18 Paske nan anpil sajès gen anpil tristès, e nan anpil konesans gen anpil doulè.
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
