All temporal things (in comparison of true felicity) are vain, 4. because they are mutable, 8. neither can any man attain perfect knowledge, to his satisfaction: 12. as appeareth by Salomon's own experience.Al temporal thinges (in comparison of true felicitie) are vaine, 4. because they are mutable, 8. neither can anie man attaine perfect knowlege, to his satisfaction: 12. as appeareth by Salomons owne experience.✦
The first part of this Sermon sheweth, that Felicity consisteth not in any temporal thing.The first part of this Sermon sheweth, that Felicitie consisteth not in anie temporal thing.
The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.THe wordes of Ecclesiastes, the sonne of Dauid, king of Ierusalem.✦Verba Ecclesiastæ, filii David, regis Jerusalem.
2vanitas: emptiness, futility: not conceit or self-regard of vanities, said Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, and all things vanity.Vanitie of vanities, sayd Ecclesiastes: vanitie of vanities, & al thinges vanitie.✦Vanitas vanitatum, dixit Ecclesiastes ; vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas.
3What hath a man more of all his labour, whereby he laboureth under the sun?What hath a man more of al his labour, wherby he laboreth vnder the sunne?✦Quid habet amplius homo de universo labore suo quo laborat sub sole ?
4Generation passeth, and generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever.Generation passeth, and generation cometh: but the earth standeth for euer.✦Generatio præterit, et generatio advenit ; terra autem in æternum stat.
5The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,The sunne riseth, and goeth downe, and returneth to his place: and there rising againe,✦Oritur sol et occidit, et ad locum suum revertitur ; ibique renascens,
6gyrat: circleth round, goeth about by the South, and bendeth to the North: compassing all things, goeth forward in circuit, and returneth unto his circles.compasseth by the South, and bendeth to the North: compassing al thinges, goeth forward in circuite, & returneth vnto his circles.✦gyrat per meridiem, et flectitur ad aquilonem. Lustrans universa in circuitu pergit spiritus, et in circulos suos revertitur.
7All rivers enter into the sea, and the sea overfloweth not: to the place, whence the rivers issue forth, they do return, that they may flow again.Al riuers enter into the sea, and the sea ouerfloweth not: to the place, whence the riuers issueforth, they do returne, that they may flow againe.✦Omnia flumina intrant in mare, et mare non redundat ; ad locum unde exeunt flumina revertuntur ut iterum fluant.
8All things are hard: man can not explicare: unfold or set forth fully them in word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.Al thinges are hard: man can not explicate them in word. The eye is not filled with seing, neither is the eare filled with hearing.✦Cunctæ res difficiles ; non potest eas homo explicare sermone. Non saturatur oculus visu, nec auris auditu impletur.
9What is that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is that hath been done? the same that is to be done.What is that hath bene? the same thing that shal be. What is that hath bene done? the same that is to be done.✦Quid est quod fuit ? Ipsum quod futurum est. Quid est quod factum est ? Ipsum quod faciendum est.
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.Nothing vnder the sunne is new, neither is anie man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages, that were before vs.✦Nihil sub sole novum, nec valet quisquam dicere : Ecce hoc recens est : jam enim præcessit in sæculis quæ fuerunt ante nos.
11There is no memory of former things: but neither of those things verily, which hereafter are to come, shall there be remembrance with them, that shall be in the later end.There is no memorie of former thinges: but neither of those thinges verily, which hereafter are to come, shal there be remenbrance with them, that shal be in the later end.✦Non est priorum memoria ; sed nec eorum quidem quæ postea futura sunt erit recordatio apud eos qui futuri sunt in novissimo.
12I Ecclesiastes have been king of Israel in Jerusalem,I Ecclesiastes haue bene king of Israel in Ierusalem,Ego Ecclesiastes fui rex Israël in Jerusalem ;
13and have proposed in my mind, to seek and search wisely of all things, that are done under the sun. This very evil occupation hath God given to the children of men, that they might be occupied in it.and haue proposed in my mind, to seke and search wisely of al thinges, that are done vnder the sunne. This very euil occupation hath God geuen to the children of men, that they might be occupied in it.et proposui in animo meo quærere et investigare sapienter de omnibus quæ fiunt sub sole. Hanc occupationem pessimam dedit Deus filiis hominum, ut occuparentur in ea.
14I have seen all things, that are done under the sun, and behold all are vanity, and affliction of spirit.I haue sene al thinges, that are done vnder the sunne, and behold al are vanitie, & affliction of spirit.✦Vidi cuncta quæ fiunt sub sole, et ecce universa vanitas et afflictio spiritus.
15The perverse are difficile: with difficulty: not scarcely corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.The peruerse are hardly corrected, and the number of fooles is infinite.✦Perversi difficile corriguntur, et stultorum infinitus est numerus.
16I have spoken in my heart, saying: Lo I have been made 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.I haue spoken in my hart, saying: Loe I haue bene made great, and haue gone beyond al in wisdom, that were before me in Ierusalem: and my minde hath contemplated manie thinges wisely, and I haue lerned.✦Locutus sum in corde meo, dicens : Ecce magnus effectus sum, et præcessi omnes sapientia qui fuerunt ante me in Jerusalem ; et mens mea contemplata est multa sapienter, et didici.
17And I have given my heart to know prudence, and doctrine, and errors and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and affliction of spirit,And I haue geuen my hart to know prudence, and doctrine, and errors and follie: and I haue perceiued that in these also there was labour, and affliction of spirite,✦Dedique cor meum ut scirem prudentiam atque doctrinam, erroresque et stultitiam ; et agnovi quod in his quoque esset labor et afflictio spiritus :
18for that in much wisdom there is much indignatio: vexation, grief: not righteous anger: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.for that in much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowlege, addeth also labour.¶✦eo quod in multa sapientia multa sit indignatio ; et qui addit scientiam, addit et laborem.
Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament
18In much wisdom is much indignation. How much more any man profiteth in wisdom, so much more he is angry with himself, for the evils which he hath done: so much better he knoweth the strict judgement of God, which he must pass: so much more he understandeth the want of perfect wisdom: so much more he seeth that labour is required to proceed in virtue: and to conserve that small portion which he hath gotten. Neither is any man ordinarily assured that he hath got any part of true wisdom, for he knoweth not, whether he be worthy of love or hate. Eccle. 9.In much wisdom is much indignation. How much more anie man profiteth in wisdom, so much more he is angrie with himself, for the euils which he hath done: so much better he knoweth the strict iudgement of God, which he must passe: so much more he vnderstandeth the vvant of perfect vvisdom: so much more he seeth that labour is required to procede in vertue: and to conserue that smal portion vvhich he hath gotten. Neither is anie man ordinarily assured that he hath gotte anie part of true vvisdom, for he knoweth not, vvhether he be vvorthie of loue or hate. Eccle. 9.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.