传道书 1
1 在耶路撒冷作王、大卫的儿子、传道者的言语。
The words of Kohelet, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 传道者说：虚空的虚空， 虚空的虚空，凡事都是虚空。
“Vanity of vanities,” says Kohelet; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
3 人一切的劳碌， 就是他在日光之下的劳碌，有什么益处呢？
What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun?
4 一代过去，一代又来， 地却永远长存。
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
5 日头出来，日头落下， 急归所出之地。
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
6 风往南刮，又向北转， 不住地旋转，而且返回转行原道。
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 江河都往海里流，海却不满； 江河从何处流，仍归还何处。
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 万事令人厌烦， 人不能说尽。 眼看，看不饱； 耳听，听不足。
All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 已有的事后必再有； 已行的事后必再行。 日光之下并无新事。
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 岂有一件事人能指着说这是新的？ 哪知，在我们以前的世代早已有了。
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 已过的世代，无人记念； 将来的世代，后来的人也不记念。
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 我传道者在耶路撒冷作过以色列的王。
I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 我专心用智慧寻求、查究天下所做的一切事，乃知 神叫世人所经练的是极重的劳苦。
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 我见日光之下所做的一切事，都是虚空，都是捕风。
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
15 弯曲的，不能变直； 缺少的，不能足数。
That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
16 我心里议论说：我得了大智慧，胜过我以前在耶路撒冷的众人，而且我心中多经历智慧和知识的事。
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 我又专心察明智慧、狂妄，和愚昧，乃知这也是捕风。
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
18 因为多有智慧，就多有愁烦； 加增知识的，就加增忧伤。
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
