人生的虚空
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.
2传道者说：虚空的虚空， 虚空的虚空，全是虚空。Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, 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 profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
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.
5太阳上升，太阳落下， 急归所出之地。The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6风往南刮，又向北转， 不停旋转，绕回原路。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.
7江河都往海里流，海却不满； 江河从何处流，仍归回原处。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.
8万事令人厌倦， 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.
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.
10有一件事人指着说：“看，这是新的！” 它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.
11已过的事，无人记念； 将来的事，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.
传道者的经验
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.
13我用智慧专心探寻、考察天下所发生的一切事：神给世人何等沉重的担子，使他们在其中劳苦！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.
14我见日光之下所发生的一切事，看哪，全是虚空，全是捕风。I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15弯曲的，不能变直； 缺乏的，不计其数。That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16我心里说：“看哪，我大有智慧，胜过在我以前所有统治耶路撒冷的人；我的心也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.
17我专心想要明白智慧，想要明白狂妄与愚昧，方知这也是捕风。And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18因为多有智慧，就多有愁烦； 增加知识，就增加忧伤。For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.