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, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3 Ki avantaj yon nonm gen nan tout travay ke li fè anba solèy la?
What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?
4 Yon jenerasyon ale e yon jenerasyon vini; men tè a rete pou tout tan.
One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.
5 Anplis, solèy la leve e solèy la kouche; konsa li kouri al jwenn plas li pou li leve la ankò.
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
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 goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
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; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go 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; man cannot utter [it]: 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 hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath 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 whereof men say, See, this is new? it hath been already, 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 remembrance of the former [generations]; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter [generations] that are to come, among 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.
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
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 striving after wind.
15 Sa ki kwochi p ap ka drese e sa ki manke p ap ka konte.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
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 communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart hath 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.
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving 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 that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
