Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 1

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.	1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, the king of Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.	2 Ecclesiastes said: Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity!
3 What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun?	3 What more does a man have from all his labor, as he labors under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever.	4 A generation passes away, and a generation arrives. But the earth stands forever.
5 The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,	5 The sun rises and sets; it returns to its place, and from there, being born again,
6 Maketh 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.	6 it circles through the south, and arcs toward the north. The spirit continues on, illuminating everything in its circuit, and turning again in its cycle.
7 All 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.	7 All rivers enter into the sea, and the sea does not overflow. To the place from which the rivers go out, they return, so that they may flow again.
8 All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.	8 Such things are difficult; man is not able to explain them with words. The eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor is the ear fulfilled by hearing.
9 What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done.	9 What is it that has existed? The same shall exist in the future. What is it that has been done? The same shall continue to be done.
10 Nothing 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.	10 There is nothing new under the sun. Neither is anyone able to say: “Behold, this is new!” For it has already been brought forth in the ages that were before us.
11 There 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.	11 There is no remembrance of the former things. Indeed, neither shall there be any record of past things in the future, for those who will exist at the very end.
12 I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,	12 I, Ecclesiastes, was king of Israel at Jerusalem.
13 And 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.	13 And I was determined in my mind to seek and to investigate wisely, concerning all that is done under the sun. God has given this very difficult task to the sons of men, so that they may be occupied by it.
14 I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.	14 I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
15 The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.	15 The perverse are unwilling to be corrected, and the number of the foolish is boundless.
16 I 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.	16 I have spoken in my heart, saying: “Behold, I have achieved greatness, and I have surpassed all the wise who were before me in Jerusalem.” And my mind has contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
17 And 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,	17 And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit.
18 Because In much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.	18 Because of this, with much wisdom there is also much anger. And whoever adds knowledge, also adds hardship.