1:1 在耶路撒冷作王，大卫的儿子，传道者的言语。

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

 

1:2 传道者说，虚空的虚空，虚空的虚空。凡事都是虚空。

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

 

1:3 人一切的劳碌，就是他在日光之下的劳碌，有什么益处呢。

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

 

1:4 一代过去，一代又来。地却永远长存。

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

 

1:5 日头出来，日头落下，急归所出之地。

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

 

1:6 风往南刮，又向北转，不住的旋转，而且返回转行原道。

The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

 

1:7 江河都往海里流，海却不满。江河从何处流，仍归何处。

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

 

1:8 万事令人厌烦。（或作万物满有困乏）人不能说尽。眼看，看不饱，耳听，听不足。

All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

 

1:9 已有的事，后必再有。已行的事，后必再行。日光之下并无新事。

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

 

1:10 岂有一件事人能指着说，这是新的。那知，在我们以前的世代，早已有了。

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

 

1:11 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 remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

 

1:12 我传道者在耶路撒冷作过以色列的王。

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

 

1:13 我专心用智慧寻求查究天下所作的一切事，乃知神叫世人所经练的，是极重的劳苦。

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

 

1:14 我见日光之下所作的一切事，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 vexation of spirit.

 

1:15 弯曲的不能变直，缺少的不能足数。

That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

 

1:16 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 communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

 

1:17 我又专心察明智慧，狂妄，和愚昧。乃知道也是捕风。

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

 

1:18 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 that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.