“ Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher,“ completely meaningless!”

传道者说：虚空的虚空，虚空的虚空，凡事都是虚空。

传道者说：虚空的虚空，虚空的虚空，全是虚空。

传道者说：虚空的虚空，虚空的虚空，全是虚空。

传道者说：虚空的虚空，虚空的虚空，一切都是虚空。

传道者说：虚空的虚空。虚空的虚空，一切都是虚空。

“虚空的虚空，”传道者说，“虚空的虚空，全都是虚空！”

傳道者說：虛空的虛空，虛空的虛空，凡事都是虛空。

傳道者說：虛空的虛空，虛空的虛空，全是虛空。

傳道者說：虛空的虛空，虛空的虛空，全是虛空。

傳道者說：虛空的虛空，虛空的虛空，一切都是虛空。

傳道者說：虛空的虛空。虛空的虛空，一切都是虛空。

傳道人說：虛空之虛空！虛空之虛空！萬事都虛空！

「虛空的虛空，」傳道者說，「虛空的虛空，全都是虛空！」

傳道者曰、虛空之虛空、虛空之虛空、萬事虛空、

吾觀萬事、空之又空、虛之又虛、

柯希列曰、凡事虛中之虛、虛中之虛、皆屬於虛、

“ Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.“ Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

“ Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” says the Teacher.“ Everything is completely meaningless! Nothing has any meaning.”

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

“ Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.“ Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”

“ Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher,“ Futility of futilities! All is futility.”

“ Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;“ Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

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

“ Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.“ Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”

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

“ Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,“ Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”

“ Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;“ Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

For they are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow.

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,

“ Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher,“ completely meaningless.”

You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” InterludeWe are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air.Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.

So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless— like chasing the wind.

And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless!

But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless— like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless— like chasing the wind.

Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.

This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself,“ Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

Both will die. So I said to myself,“ Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!”

So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless— like chasing the wind.

For people and animals share the same fate— both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless!

Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy.

When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.

Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless— like chasing the wind.

The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?