Ecclesiastes 1
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
1The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
1THE WORDS OF the Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.
2Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun?
3What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever.
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; and the earth abideth for ever.
5The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth.
6Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits.
6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its circuit, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again.
7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.
8All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.
8All things toil to weariness; man cannot utter it, the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done.
9That which hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.
10Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us.
10Is there a thing whereof it is said: 'See, this is new'? — it hath been already, in the ages which were before us.
11There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.
11There is no remembrance of them of former times; neither shall there be any remembrance of them of latter times that are to come, among those that shall come after.
12I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,
12I Koheleth have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.
13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; it is a sore task that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
14I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.
15That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
16I spoke with my own heart, saying: 'Lo, I have gotten great wisdom, more also than all that were before me over Jerusalem'; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,
17And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly — I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
18Because In much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.
18For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
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