Ecclesiastes 1
1 verba Ecclesiastes filii David regis Hierusalem
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 vanitas vanitatum dixit Ecclesiastes vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
3 quid habet amplius homo de universo labore suo quod laborat sub sole
What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun?
4 generatio praeterit et generatio advenit terra vero in aeternum stat
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
5 oritur sol et occidit et ad locum suum revertitur ibique renascens
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
6 gyrat per meridiem et flectitur ad aquilonem lustrans universa circuitu pergit spiritus et in circulos suos regreditur
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 omnia flumina intrant mare et mare non redundat ad locum unde exeunt flumina revertuntur ut iterum fluant
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 cunctae res difficiles non potest eas homo explicare sermone non saturatur oculus visu nec auris impletur auditu
All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 quid est quod fuit ipsum quod futurum est quid est quod factum est ipsum quod fiendum est
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 nihil sub sole novum nec valet quisquam dicere ecce hoc recens est iam enim praecessit in saeculis quae fuerunt ante nos
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 non est priorum memoria sed nec eorum quidem quae postea futura sunt erit recordatio apud eos qui futuri sunt in novissimo
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 ego Ecclesiastes fui rex Israhel in Hierusalem
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 et proposui in animo meo quaerere et investigare sapienter de omnibus quae fiunt sub sole hanc occupationem pessimam dedit Deus filiis hominum ut occuparentur in ea
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 vidi quae fiunt cuncta sub sole et ecce universa vanitas et adflictio spiritus
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
15 perversi difficile corriguntur et stultorum infinitus est numerus
That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
16 locutus sum in corde meo dicens ecce magnus effectus sum et praecessi sapientia omnes qui fuerunt ante me in Hierusalem et mens mea contemplata est multa sapienter et didicit
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 dedique cor meum ut scirem prudentiam atque doctrinam erroresque et stultitiam et agnovi quod in his quoque esset labor et adflictio spiritus
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
18 eo quod in multa sapientia multa sit indignatio et qui addit scientiam addat et laborem
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
