Ecclesiastes 1
1 Verba Ecclesiastæ, filii David, regis Jerusalem.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.
2 [Vanitas vanitatum, dixit Ecclesiastes; vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas.
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 Quid habet amplius homo de universo labore suo quo laborat sub sole?]
What advantage [is there] to a man in all his labour that he takes under the sun?
4 [Generatio præterit, et generatio advenit; terra autem in æternum stat.
A generation goes, and a generation comes: but the earth stands for ever.
5 Oritur sol et occidit, et ad locum suum revertitur; ibique renascens,
And the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws towards its place;
6 gyrat per meridiem, et flectitur ad aquilonem. Lustrans universa in circuitu pergit spiritus, et in circulos suos revertitur.
arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round towards the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits.
7 Omnia flumina intrant in mare, et mare non redundat; ad locum unde exeunt flumina revertuntur ut iterum fluant.
All the rivers run into the sea; and yet the sea is not filled: to the place whence the rivers come, there they return again.
8 Cunctæ res difficiles; non potest eas homo explicare sermone. Non saturatur oculus visu, nec auris auditu impletur.
All things are full of labour; a man will not be able to speak [of them]: neither shall the eye be satisfied with seeing, neither shall the ear be filled with hearing.
9 Quid est quod fuit? Ipsum quod futurum est. Quid est quod factum est? Ipsum quod faciendum est.
What is that which has been? the very thing which shall be: and what is that which has been done? the very thing which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Nihil sub sole novum, nec valet quisquam dicere: Ecce hoc recens est: jam enim præcessit in sæculis quæ fuerunt ante nos.
[Who is he] that shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? it has already been in the ages that have passed before us.
11 Non est priorum memoria; sed nec eorum quidem quæ postea futura sunt erit recordatio apud eos qui futuri sunt in novissimo.]
There is no memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with them that shall at the last [time].
12 [Ego Ecclesiastes fui rex Israël in Jerusalem;
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 et proposui in animo meo quærere et investigare sapienter de omnibus quæ fiunt sub sole. Hanc occupationem pessimam dedit Deus filiis hominum, ut occuparentur in ea.
And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled therewith.
14 Vidi cuncta quæ fiunt sub sole, et ecce universa vanitas et afflictio spiritus.
I saw all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, saw, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.
15 Perversi difficile corriguntur, et stultorum infinitus est numerus.
That which is crooked can’t be made straight: and deficiency can’t be numbered.
16 Locutus sum in corde meo, dicens: Ecce magnus effectus sum, et præcessi omnes sapientia qui fuerunt ante me in Jerusalem; et mens mea contemplata est multa sapienter, et didici.
I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.
17 Dedique cor meum ut scirem prudentiam atque doctrinam, erroresque et stultitiam; et agnovi quod in his quoque esset labor et afflictio spiritus:
And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.
18 eo quod in multa sapientia multa sit indignatio; et qui addit scientiam, addit et laborem.]
For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he that increases knowledge will increase sorrow.
