Eclesiastes 1

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." 3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? 4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7 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 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 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 Is there a thing of which it may be said, "Behold,*1:10 "Behold", from "הִנֵּה", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. this is new"? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.

12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 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*1:13 The Hebrew word rendered "God" is "אֱלֹהִ֑ים" (Elohim). has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. 16 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 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

He Whakaaro o tētahi Kīngi Kaikauwhau

1 Ko ngā kupu a te Kaikauwhau, arā a te tama a Rāwiri, i kīngi nei ki Hiruhārama:

2 "He tino horihori rawa," e ai tā te Kaikauwhau,

"he tino horihori rawa; he horihori katoa!"

3 He aha te pai ki te tangata o tōna māuiui katoa

e māuiui ai ia i raro i te rā?

4 Ko tēnei whakatupuranga e haere atu ana,

ko tērā whakatupuranga e haere mai ana;

ko te whenua ia, mau tonu.

5 E whiti ana hoki te rā, e heke atu ana te rā,

hohoro tonu atu ki tōna wāhi i whiti mai ai.

6 E anga ana te hau ki te tonga,

nā, ka taka ki te raki;

he hanga takataka tonu tāna i tōna ara,

ā, ka hoki mai anō te hau ki ōna takatakanga.

7 E rere ana ngā awa katoa ki te moana,

heoi kāhore e kī te moana;

ko te wāhi i rere mai ai ngā awa,

ka hoki atu anō rātou ki reira.

8 Māuiui rawa ngā mea katoa,

e kore e taea e te tangata te kōrero;

e kore te kanohi e ngata i te mātakitaki,

e kore te taringa e kī i te whakarongo.

9 Ko tō mua mea koia anō hei mea āianei,

ā, ko te mea i mahia i mua ka mahia anō āianei;

kāhore hoki he mea hou i raro i te rā.

10 Tērā anō rānei he mea e kī ai tētahi,

"Titiro, he mea hou tēnei"?

He mea ia nō ngā wā ō mua,

nō ērā i mua atu i a tātou.

11 Kāhore he mahara ki ngā whakatupuranga o mua;

kāhore hoki e maharatia

ngā whakatupuranga e haere mai

ā muri nei e te hunga ō muri atu.

Te Huakore o te Whai Whakaaronui

12 Ko ahau, ko te Kaikauwhau, te kīngi o Īharaira i Hiruhārama. 13 Nā, ka whakaangahia e ahau tōku ngākau ki te whakaaro nui hei rapu, hei kimi i ngā mea katoa e mahia ana i raro i te rangi. Nā te Atua tēnei whakararuraru kino i hōmai ki ngā tama a te tangata hei whakararu i a rātou. 14 Kua kite ahau i ngā mea katoa e mahia ana i raro i te rā; nanā, he horihori katoa, he whai hoki i te hau.

15 Ko te mea piko e kore e taea te whakahāngai;

ko te mea koha e kore e taea te tatau.

16 I kōrerorero ahau ki tōku ngākau, i mea, "Nanā, kua whiwhi rawa ahau i te whakaaro nui ki runga ake i ō te hunga katoa i mua atu i ahau i Hiruhārama; āe rā, he maha ngā mea kua kitea e tōku ngākau o te whakaaro nui, o te mātauranga." 17 Nā, ka whakaangahia e ahau tōku ngākau kia mōhio ki te whakaaro nui, kia mōhio ki te haurangi, ki te wairangi; ā, kua kite ahau he whai anō hoki tēnei i te hau.

18 Mā te nui hoki o te whakaaro ka nui ai te pōuri,

ā, ko te tangata e whakaneke ake ana

i te mātauranga e whakaneke ake ana i te mamae.